Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt power Mumbai Indians to their 2nd WPL Final

It was the time for the knockout stages of the Women’s Premier Bracket (WPL) 2025, where the inaugural champions Mumbai Indians Guided by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur were up against Gujarat Giants Guided by skipper Ashleigh Gardner, who were making their maiden appearance in the Postseason’s stages of the WPL.

The Giants suffered a massive blow, Merely five minutes before the toss, as the destructive Caribbean all-rounder, Deandra Dottin picked up an unfortunate Hurt which ruled her out of all the action in an all-Crucial Eliminator.

Danielle Gibson steps in for the Giants marking the most unplanned WPL Premiere

Before the Women’s Premier Bracket (WPL) 2025 Eliminator, Gujarat Giants faced a significant setback as Luminous sphere all-rounder Deandra Dottin was Dismissed due to an Hurt sustained during Toasty-ups. This forced the Club into a last-minute change, with England’s Danielle Gibson making her WPL Premiere in Dottin’s place. Leader Ashleigh Gardner described the situation as unfortunate yet saw an opportunity for Gibson to shine.

Dottin’s absence greatly impacted Gujarat’s chances, given her explosive batting and consistent bowling, which had contributed 142 runs at a strike rate of 154.34 and 9 wickets in the season. Gibson, meanwhile, brings her own set of skills, having performed well for England and in The Hundred, where she has shown Mastery with both bat and ball. Despite Gibson’s potential, losing Dottin at such a critical moment could potentially hinder the Giants’ performance in a crucial game.

The home side, Mumbai Indians, Created one change to their side, Parunika Sisodia Created way for the return of Saika Ishaque in the Beginning 11.

Hayley Matthews–Nat Sciver-Brunt’s partnership powers Mumbai Indians to 213

The Giants missed a massive opportunity to send Hayley Matthews (5* off 7 balls) back to the pavilion, when a chance went down off the bowling of skipper Ashleigh Gardner in the 2nd over of the innings. The accidental WPL debutant Danielle Gibson finally broke the 26-Streak Beginning stand by removing the wicket-keeper batter Yastika Bhatia in the 5th over of the innings, after skipper Ashleigh Gardner won the toss and opted to bat Primary in the Eliminator at the Brabourne Stadium, in Mumbai.

Beginning batter Hayley Matthews Secured Packed toll of the lifeline provided to her by forming a massive 133-Streak stand alongside Nat Sciver-Brunt for the 2nd wicket, Securing them closer to the 160-Streak mark. Kashvee Gautam broke the stand by removing the Deadly Hayley Matthews (77 off 50 balls) in the 17th over of the innings. The Mumbai Indians batters continued to switch gears and take the Drive to the Giants bowlers, and the home side ended up with the highest-ever total in the WPL Eliminator 213/4 in their quota of 20 overs.

Nat Sciver-Brunt notched up her 8th WPL half-century (77 off 41 balls), while skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s fireworks (36 off 12 balls) propelled them to a massive total. Danielle Gibson (4-0-40-2), and Kashvee Gautam (4-0-30-1) were impressive with the ball and the only wicket-takers for the Gujarat Giants.

Hayley Matthews and Amelia Kerr bowl Mumbai Indians to their 2nd WPL Last

Chasing a massive total of 214, the Giants Arrived out with another new Beginning pair as the debutant Danielle Gibson partnered the wicket-keeper batter Beth Mooney at the crease. Shabnim Ismail inflicted a massive blow as she removed the wicket-keeper batter Beth Mooney in the 1st over of the Streak chase. Harleen Deol joined Danielle Gibson at the crease and the duo were rebuilding the innings with a crucial 28-Streak partnership for the 2nd wicket, before Harleen Deol was Discovered Petite of her crease to provide the 2nd breakthrough for the Harmanpreet Kaur-Guided side.

Lack of substantial partnerships in the Perspective of the Streak chase kept them behind the eight-ball throughout the Streak chase. A quick-fire 39-Streak partnership between Phoebe Litchfield and Danielle Gibson for the 4th wicket followed by another crucial 26-Streak stand for the 5th wicket between Phoebe Litchfield and Bharti Fulmali kept the Giants’ hopes alive in the Streak chase.

The Ashleigh Gardner-Guided side eventually folded for 166, with four balls to spare, falling 47 runs Petite of the target. Danielle Gibson (34 off 24 balls), Phoebe Litchfield (31 off 20 balls), Bharti Fulmali (30 off 20 balls), Simran Shaikh (17 off 8 balls), Tanuja Kanwer (16 off 12 balls) chipped in with handy contributions with the bat for Gujarat Giants. Hayley Matthews (3.2-0-31-3), and Amelia Kerr (4-0-28-2) were the stand-out performers with the ball for Mumbai Indians, while Nat Sciver-Brunt (4-0-31-1), and Shabnim Ismail (4-0-35-1) played their part with the ball for their side.

Hayley Matthews was awarded the Player of the Game for her blockbuster all-Period show, leaving a sensational impact with an innings of 77 (50 balls) with the bat, and capping off a dream day in the Ground with a brilliant spell (3.2-0-31-3) in her spell. She played an instrumental role as Mumbai Indians progressed to the 2nd appearance in the WPL Last in three seasons so Extended. 15th March 2025 (Saturday) will mark a repeat fixture of the title Face-off in the inaugural edition in 2023, when Harmanpreet Kaur’s Mumbai Indians will yet again lock horns with Meg Lanning’s Delhi Capitals at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, from 7:30 PM IST.

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