The highly anticipated fifth match of the third edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) will feature an intense face-off between the Gujarat Giants and Mumbai Indians. The clash is set to take place at Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara, on February 18 at 7:30 PM (IST).
Mumbai Indians come into this match after a heartbreaking last-ball loss against the Delhi Capitals, who successfully chased down a 165-run target. On the other hand, Gujarat Giants, after suffering an opening-game defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, bounced back strongly against UP Warriorz by chasing a modest 144-run target.
Squads:
Gujarat Giants
Ashleigh Gardner (C), Harleen Deol, Prakashika Naik, Beth Mooney, Kashvee Gautam, Priya Mishra, Bharti Fulmali, Laura Wolvaardt, Sayali Satghare, Danielle Gibson, Mannat Kashyap, Shabnam Shakil, Dayalan Hemalatha, Meghna Singh, Simran Shaikh, Deandra Dottin, Phoebe Litchfield, Tanuja Kanwer
Mumbai Indians
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Akshita Maheshwari, Parunika Sisodia, Amandeep Kaur, Hayley Matthews, Saika Ishaque, Amanjot Kaur, Jintimani Kalita, Sajeevan Sajana, Amelia Kerr, Keerthana Balakrishnan, Sanskriti Gupta, Chloe Tryon, Nadine De Klerk, Shabnim Ismail, G Kamalini, Natalie Sciver-Brunt, Yastika Bhatia
Players to watch out:
Deandra Dottin
The experienced West Indies all-rounder made an immediate impact in her WPL debut, smashing 25 off 13 balls and taking 1/41 (3.3) against RCB. She carried her form into the next game, scoring an unbeaten 33 off 18 and bagging 2/34 (4) against UP Warriorz. Dottin’s explosive batting and handy bowling make her a key asset.
Priya Mishra
The 20-year-old spinner made her WPL debut against RCB, returning figures of 0/29 (3). However, she quickly bounced back against UP Warriorz, delivering a match-winning spell of 3/25 (4), dismissing key batters like Deepti Sharma, Grace Harris, and Tahlia McGrath. Her ability to take crucial wickets makes her a bowler to watch out for.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt
The English all-rounder made a sensational start to WPL 2025, leading the scoring her side with a fine 80* off 59 balls and taking 1/38 (4) against Delhi. With 584 runs and 21 wickets in 20 WPL matches, Sciver-Brunt remains one of the most reliable performers in the league.
Shabnim Ismail
The South African speedster is one of the most feared pacers in the world. She showcased her brilliance in Mumbai’s opening match, picking up 1/18 (4) against Delhi Capitals. With 12 wickets in 11 WPL matches and a best of 3/18, Ismail’s fiery pace and accuracy make her a threat to any batting lineup.
Pitch:
The Kotambi Stadium pitch offers a well-balanced surface but slightly favors spinners. The average first-innings score is 143, and teams winning the toss usually prefer to bat first to take advantage of the conditions.
Weather:
The weather in Vadodara will be clear throughout the match. Temperatures will range from 33°C during the day to 19°C at night. Humidity is expected to be around 52%, with winds blowing at 13 kph.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Beth Mooney, Yastika Bhatia, Laura Wolvaardt, Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Matthews, Natalie Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Ashleigh Gardner, Deandra Dottin, Sayali Satghare, Shabnim Ismail
Match details:
Date: February 18, 2025
Time: 7:30 PM IST
Venue: Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara
Broadcast: Live streaming on Jio Hotstar; Telecast on Star Sports Network
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