The WPL's 19th match took place on March 10, 2025 when Mumbai Indians Women (MIW) defeated Gujarat Giants Women (GGW) by 9 runs at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium.
The victory established MIW as GGW's dominant team since they had defeated them six times in a row while moving forward in their path towards the WPL final.
Match Overview
The team of MIW under captain Harmanpreet Kaur managed to score 179 runs with six batsmen getting out before the end of their 20-over innings. The GGW batting order put up 170 runs before their final dismissal ended the match.
MIW's Innings
The MIW batting choice was first at bat while Harmanpreet Kaur delivered an exceptional performance by hitting 54 runs off 33 balls with nine boundaries. Her aggressive style of batting during the middle overs proved essential for establishing a demanding score. The batting lineup received important support from Nat Sciver-Brunt who scored 38 runs off 31 balls and Amanjot Kaur who made 27 runs from 15 deliveries.
The bowlers from GGW encountered difficulties when trying to restrict the batting performance of MIW. The standout bowler of the match turned out to be Ashleigh Gardner who managed to take one wicket while giving away 27 runs during her four-over spell. Both Priya Mishra and Tanuja Kanwar took singles for wickets while MIW maintained their steady scoring rate until the end of the innings.
GGW's Chase
The first innings of GGW began with instability while they attempted to reach 180. The team suffered early losses of Beth Mooney who scored 7 runs in 9 balls and Ashleigh Gardner who was out for zero runs in two deliveries as they dropped to 54/4. Harleen Deol managed to provide brief resistance by hitting 24 runs from her 17 balls before GGW lost further ground in their hopes for victory.
Bharti Fulmali brought a remarkable comeback during the innings by hitting 61 runs off 25 balls while reaching eight boundaries and clearing the fence four times. The aggressive batting display from Fulmali resuscitated GGW's pursuit which erased their deficit to the competition. MIW gained control of the match after Bharti Fulmali got out in the 17th over on a catch taken by Kamalini when Amelia Kerr delivered the ball.
The bowling unit of MIW worked together effectively to stop their opponents from reaching their target. Hayley Matthews and Amelia Kerr rose above the rest to become the most successful bowlers of the match by taking three wickets each. Matthews delivered 3 wickets while bowling 38 balls and Kerr earned 3 wickets after 34 balls to create essential bowling pressure for MIW. Two wickets by Shabnim Ismail during her four over spell cost the opposition team 17 runs which established the defensive foundation for MIW
Match Turning Points
- During her innings Harmanpreet Kaur hit aggressive half-centuries which gave MIW both offensive power and a secure total to defend.
- The early loss of key batters in GGW's batting lineup by MIW pushed GGW into a challenging situation at the beginning of their run chase.
- After Bharti Fulmali launched an offensive with her powerful batting GGW started to regain control until her dismissal ended their offensive push.
- Amelia Kerr made crucial bowling decisions by taking out Fulmali and other dangerous batters which helped MIW secure victory.
Post-Match Reflections
Through her leadership together with her exceptional performance Harmanpreet Kaur received the Player of the Match recognition. She explained that successful partnerships together with continuous high-pressure performance are essential during important moments. Kaur commended her team's bowlers for showing great determination while dealing with Fulmali's powerful batting and executing their strategies no matter the circumstances.
In response to Fulmali's commendable effort Ashleigh Gardner as GGW captain expressed the necessity for improved batting skills from the team's top players. She emphasized that the team needed to study their loss so they could win future matches to achieve a playoff position.
Implications for the Tournament
MIW attained joint first position at the top of the WPL points table together with the Delhi Capitals Women after accumulating 10 points. A positive net run rate position gives MIW good chances to qualify directly into the final round if they continue their winning streak through upcoming games.
The loss functions as a vital turning point for GGW. The team currently holds 8 points in the WPL competition yet they need to fix batting problems to enhance their playoff chances. The determined performances in this match particularly from Fulmali among others will serve as important building blocks for the team going forward.
Conclusion
March 10, 2025 brought MIW against GGW in a Women's Premier League competition that displayed high competitive intensity. Throughout the match both teams displayed exceptional performances although MIW used their experience alongside strategic planning to achieve victory. The tournament's progress benefits from such performances which strengthen the league's popularity and promotes global recognition of women's cricket.