Mumbai Indians defeated Gujarat Giants in a tight contest by 9 runs to strengthen their chances for a golden ticket giving a direct entry into the final. In a short turn-around for the home side, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side were up against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final league game of the WPL 2025.
Heather Graham makes her much-awaited WPL debut
Heather Graham, a skilled Australian all-rounder, joined the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025, filling the spot left by Sophie Devine ahead of WPL 2025. In the WBBL, Graham has amassed 1,560 runs and taken 141 wickets in 138 games, highlighting her dual skills. Her international career took off with an ODI debut against Sri Lanka in 2019, followed by her first T20I cap in 2022 during a notable tour of India, where she achieved a rare hat-trick. Graham has also impressed in The Hundred, scoring 268 runs at a strike rate of 139.58 and taking 17 wickets.
The home side retained the same team that took the field in their previous game. Royal Challengers Bengaluru on the other hand, decided to test the bench strength, making three changes, including the debutant Heather Graham, replacing Charlie Dean, Prema Rawat replacing Raghvi Bist, and Joshitha VJ replacing Renuka Singh in the starting 11.
Smriti Mandhana returns to form with a brilliant half-century as RCB posts 199
Sabbhineni Meghana and skipper Smriti Mandhana got their side off to a flying start with a 41-run opening partnership, after Mumbai Indians skipper Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and opted to bowl first. Hayley Matthews broke the stand by removing Sabbhineni Meghana (26 off 13 balls) in the 4th over of the innings to provide the first breakthrough for the home side.
Substantial partnerships throughout the innings, worth 59 runs (49 balls) for the 2nd wicket between Ellyse Perry and skipper Smriti Mandhana, followed by another crucial 53 (33 balls) for the 3rd wicket between Ellyse Perry and Richa Ghosh, and a breezy 46-run (16 balls) partnership for the 4th partnership between Ellyse Perry and Georgia Wareham, provided the required finishing touches to power them to a massive total of 199/3 in their quota of 20 overs.
Skipper Smriti Mandhana completed her well-deserved half-century (53 off 37 balls), while Ellyse Perry (49* off 38 balls) chipped in with another impactful contribution with the bat for her side. Wicket-keeper batter Richa Ghosh (36 off 22 balls), and Georgia Wareham (31* off 10 balls) skyrocketed the total with a breezy cameo towards the end. Hayley Matthews (4-0-37-2), and Amanjot Kaur (4-0-27-0) were the pick of the bowlers for Mumbai, while Amelia Kerr (3-0-47-1) was the other wicket-taker with the ball for Mumbai Indians.
Nat Sciver-Brunt’s 69 and Sajveen Sajana’s cameos in vain as RCB hold their nerve
Chasing a massive total of 200, Mumbai Indians openers Amelia Kerr and Hayley Matthews got their side off to a solid start with a 27-run opening partnership. Sneh Rana broke the stand by removing Hayley Matthews in the 4th over of the run chase. Amelia Kerr soon followed her back to the pavilion to provide the 2nd breakthrough for the visitors in the final over of the powerplay.
Crucial partnerships for the 3rd wicket between Nat Sciver-Brunt and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur worth 40 runs (30 balls), followed by another vital 51-run (28 balls) stand for the 4th wicket between Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amanjot Kaur kept the home side in the contest. The experienced Ellyse Perry took the matter into her own hands and got the big scalp of Nat Sciver-Brunt in the 15th over of the run chase. She notched up her 7th half-century in the WPL (69 off 35 balls) before getting dismissed.
The home side kept losing wickets at regular intervals, squeezing away all the momentum in the run chase. They found themselves in trouble at 167/8 in the 19th over of the run chase. Sajeevan Sajana (23 off 12 balls) kept believing and tried her best with a few massive blows towards the end of the innings. However, it wasn’t enough for her side as they fell 11 runs short of the target, as they ended on 188/9 in their quota of 20 overs.
Sneh Rana (4-0-26-3) was the stand-out performer with the ball for RCB, while Kim Garth (4-0-33-2), Ellyse Perry (4-0-53-2), and Georgia Wareham (4-0-29-1) were impressive with the ball for the visitors. Sneh Rana was awarded the Player of the Match for her impressive spell with the ball (4-0-26-3), playing a crucial role in helping the Smriti Mandhana-led side to hand Mumbai Indians their first defeat at the Brabourne Stadium.
The knockout line up is finalized as Mumbai Indians make it to their third straight Eliminator. They will face Ashleigh Gardner’s Gujarat Giants on 13th March 2025, while Meg Lanning’s Delhi Capitals secured their third straight entry into the WPL final on 15th March 2025 (Saturday).
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