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Mumbai Indians (MI) delivered a sensational batting performance to crush Gujarat Giants (GG) in the Eliminator clash of the 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL) at the Brabourne Stadium on Thursday. Power-packed knocks from Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and captain Harmanpreet Kaur propelled MI to a massive total of 213/4 in 20 overs, leaving GG struggling to contain their opponents.
Partnership by Matthews and Sciver-Brunt
On a fresh batting track, Matthews and Sciver-Brunt stitched together a formidable 133-run partnership off just 71 balls for the second wicket, putting on a display of sheer dominance. Matthews, who was given an early reprieve when Beth Mooney dropped her on five, made GG pay dearly by hammering 77 runs off 50 balls, laced with 10 boundaries and three towering sixes. Sciver-Brunt was equally destructive, matching Matthews’ score of 77 off just 41 deliveries, smashing 10 fours and two sixes.
7⃣-0⃣, our record versus the Giants remains intact 😎#AaliRe #MumbaiIndians #TATAWPL #MIvGG pic.twitter.com/nkHUrE7d8x
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) March 13, 2025
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Harmanpreet’s Late-Game Fireworks
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur then provided the perfect finishing touch, blasting an electrifying 12-ball 36 at an astonishing strike rate of 300. Her blitzkrieg included two fours and four sixes, ensuring MI crossed the 210-run mark in a high-stakes knockout encounter. Gujarat’s bowling attack endured a torrid time as they failed to find any breakthroughs, while their fielding lapses compounded their woes.
The innings began with Matthews setting the tone early, cutting Ashleigh Gardner for four and surviving a dropped catch. Yastika Bhatia added a quickfire 15 before falling to debutant Danielle Gibson. From there, it was a one-sided assault, with Matthews and Sciver-Brunt feasting on loose deliveries and capitalizing on GG’s lackluster fielding. While Matthews punished bowlers on the backfoot, Sciver-Brunt exhibited finesse with elegant strokes through the leg side.
Matthews reached her fifty in 36 balls by pulling Tanuja Kanwer for a six, while Sciver-Brunt followed suit, reaching her milestone in just 29 balls. The onslaught continued as GG missed crucial catching opportunities, with Ashleigh Gardner failing to hold on to Matthews’ catch at long-on. Matthews eventually fell for 77, edging behind off Kashvee Gautam, while Sciver-Brunt perished after mistiming a shot to deep mid-wicket.
Despite losing their set batters, MI’s onslaught was far from over. Harmanpreet, who was dropped on five, capitalized on the lifeline to smash Kanwer for two fours and as many sixes in the 18th over. She continued her fireworks, launching two more sixes before being run out on the final delivery of the innings. MI’s dominant batting display set the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the tournament as they marched into the final with immense confidence.
Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indians: 213/4 in 20 overs (Hayley Matthews 77, Nat Sciver-Brunt 77, Harmanpreet Kaur 36; Danielle Gibson 2/42)
With this emphatic victory, MI now stand just one step away from reclaiming the WPL title, while Gujarat Giants will rue their missed chances and lackluster effort in the field.
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