Mumbai Indians secured a thrilling nine-run victory over Gujarat Giants in the 19th match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025. This win, which came in Gujarat’s final league match, has propelled Mumbai to a crucial position in the standings. If Mumbai wins their last league match, they will claim the top spot and directly qualify for the finals.
Batting first, Mumbai posted a total of 179/6. Nat-Sciver Brunt and Hayley Mathews formed a crucial partnership after the early dismissal of Amelia Kerr. Harmanpreet Kaur’s explosive 54 off 33 deliveries was the highlight of Mumbai’s innings. Amanjot Kaur’s late cameo of 27 off 15 also contributed significantly to the total.
Gujarat’s chase got off to a poor start, with the team losing five wickets for just 70 runs. Although Bharti Fulmali’s valiant 61 off 25 balls offered some hope, Gujarat ultimately fell short. Amelia Kerr and Hayley Matthews claimed three wickets each, while Shabnim Ismail picked up two as Gujarat succumbed to a nine-run defeat.
Highlights from the match:
Harmanpreet Kaur – 54(33)
Harmanpreet Kaur played a pivotal role in Mumbai Indians’ victory scoring a fluent 54 off 33 balls with nine boundaries. Walking in at 46/2, she anchored the innings with a mix of controlled aggression and well-placed shots, consistently finding the gaps. Her elegant stroke play was evident as she punished loose deliveries, including a commanding cut shot off Meghna Singh early in her innings. Kaur brought up her seventh WPL fifty, stitching a crucial 59-run partnership with Nat Sciver-Brunt to propel MI to 179. Though she fell in the final over attempting to accelerate, her innings proved instrumental in setting up Mumbai’s winning total.
Bharti Fulmali – 61(25)
Bharti Fulmali’s breathtaking 61 off just 25 balls nearly pulled off a stunning comeback for Gujarat Giants. Walking in at a precarious 70/5, Fulmali counterattacked with an array of powerful strokes, smashing eight boundaries and four towering sixes. She raced to a 22-ball fifty, dispatching Amelia Kerr for consecutive sixes before slicing a four past backward point. Fulmali also stitched a vital 50-run partnership off 23 balls with Simran Shaikh, keeping GG in the hunt, but her dismissal in the 17th over, mistiming a lofted shot off Kerr, ended their resurgence.
Amelia Kerr – 3/34(4)
Amelia Kerr delivered a game-defining spell for Mumbai Indians, finishing with figures of 3/34 in four overs, striking at crucial moments to derail Gujarat Giants’ chase. She first broke through with a beautifully disguised googly to dismiss Harleen Deol, deceiving her with a sharp turn to crash into the middle stump. Later, she produced a timely breakthrough by cleaning up Deandra Dottin. Just when Bharti Fulmali’s onslaught threatened to tilt the game, Kerr held her nerve, luring Fulmali into a mishit that was safely taken at short third.
Hayley Matthews – 27(22) & 3/38(4)
Hayley Matthews showcased her all-round brilliance contributing both with bat and ball. She provided a solid start with a brisk 27 off 22 balls, striking three fours and two sixes to propel Mumbai’s total. With the ball, she struck early, dismissing Beth Mooney for 7. In a chaotic final over, Matthews played a crucial role in Gujarat’s collapse. She was involved in a dramatic run-out of Tanuja Kanwar, initially dropping a catch but quickly recovering to relay the throw to Amanjot, who completed the dismissal. She then removed Simran Shaikh with an inside edge onto the stumps before sealing MI’s win by stumping Priya Mishra off the last ball.
Shabnim Ismail – 2/17(4)
Shabnim Ismail delivered a masterclass in pace and precision, finishing with exceptional figures of 2/17 in four overs to put Mumbai Indians in command. She struck early with a brilliant set-up to dismiss Gujarat skipper Ashleigh Gardner for a duck, bowling a back-of-a-length delivery outside off that induced an edge, safely pouched by Hayley Matthews at slip. Later, she outfoxed Phoebe Litchfield with a clever change of pace, a slower fullish delivery that deceived the batter attempting a lap shot, crashing into the stumps.
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