Mumbai Indians stormed to their first victory of Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025, comfortably chasing down 120 to defeat Gujarat Giants by five wickets. This win not only got them off the mark this season but also extended their spotless record against the Giants to 5-0, making Gujarat the only team in WPL history without a win against a particular opponent.
With every match this season won by the chasing side, it was hardly surprising when a beaming Harmanpreet Kaur elected to field first. What followed was a clinical bowling performance, with Hayley Matthews (3/16), Nat Sciver-Brunt (2/26), and Amelia Kerr (2/22) orchestrating Gujarat’s downfall as they were bundled out for just 120.
Mumbai’s disciplined bowling attack never let Gujarat get into rhythm, and the breakthroughs began early. In the fourth over, Matthews floated one on a length outside off to Dayalan Hemalatha, who attempted to clear deep mid-wicket. But the shot lacked power, and Amelia Kerr sprinted across, covering ground effortlessly before completing a beautiful sliding catch.
The fielding brilliance continued, but not without a moment of lapse. In the 12th over, Matthews once again induced a mistimed slog, this time from Simran Shaikh. Kerr, stationed at deep mid-wicket, moved swiftly, just like before, but this time, she couldn’t hold on. It was a rare blemish, as she seemed to get cramped up at the last moment.
After the match, Amelia Kerr reflected on the challenging conditions, “The wicket was lower and had a lot of turn and bounce, I guess. When Hayley is bowling, I know that I better be in the game, and I am ready for every ball.”
Matthews, amused by the moment, laughed and responded, “I gave you (Amelia Kerr) pretty high chances.”
Kerr, recalling the dropped catch, admitted, “Unfortunately on a different ball, I dropped one there which was a wicket for Hayley,” and Matthews, not letting it slide, cheekily added, “We got her a few balls later.”
True to her words, just two overs later, Kerr ensured there were no second chances for Simran Shaikh. Matthews bowled full on off, enticing another ambitious shot, and this time, Kerr made no mistake, settling herself perfectly under the ball to complete the catch.
With a modest target of 121, Mumbai’s chase was steady despite a few hiccups. Leading from the front, Nat Sciver-Brunt played yet another match-winning knock, crafting a 57 off 39 balls, her second consecutive fifty of the season. She guided Mumbai home with 23 balls to spare, cementing her reputation as one of WPL’s finest all-rounders.
Amelia Kerr’s all-round heroics in this match etched her name in WPL history, as she became only the second player ever to achieve the double of 25 wickets and 250 runs in the tournament. The only other player? Her Mumbai teammate, Hayley Matthews, who currently has 456 runs and 28 wickets to her name.
Interestingly, Nat Sciver-Brunt is just two wickets away from entering this exclusive club, further proving Mumbai Indians’ dominance in the all-rounder department.
Matthews expressed her satisfaction with the team’s performance, “It was obviously quite disappointing after the first match but yeah to be able to bounce back to where we have feels pretty amazing and even better that it was a complete team performance and had so many people to chip in for this win.”
Mumbai Indians will now turn their attention to their next challenge—Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The two sides are set to clash on February 21st at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, a venue known for its batting-friendly conditions.
(Quotes sourced form video posted on WPLT20 on Instagram)
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