Gujarat Giants’ captain Ashleigh Gardner, right, celebrates as her Mumbai Indians’ counterpart Harmanpreet Kaur looks on.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Skipper Ashleigh Gardner and Georgia Wareham starred with bat and ball as Gujarat Giants finally broke their jinx against defending champions Mumbai Indians with an 11-run victory to seal a spot in the Women’s Premier League Eliminator here on Friday.

Gardner smashed a counter-punching 46 off 28 balls and Wareham struck a brisk 44 from 26 as the duo stitched together a crucial 71-run stand to rescue Gujarat from a mid-innings slump and lift them to a competitive 167 for 4 after opting to bat.

Chasing 168 on a tricky surface in a high-pressure contest proved challenging for Mumbai Indians, who were restricted to 156/7 despite skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s valiant unbeaten 82 off 48 balls (8×4, 4×6).

It was Gujarat’s first win over the reigning champions after eight successive defeats and could not have come at a better time, securing their place in Tuesday’s Eliminator.

Mumbai’s fate will be decided on Sunday when Delhi Capitals take on UP Warriorz in the final league match. A Delhi win will confirm their Eliminator berth, while a victory for bottom-placed UP Warriorz could open the door for Mumbai.

UPW, who have the worst net run rate of -1.146, still have an outside chance but would need a massive win to overhaul MI’s run rate of 0.146.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have already booked a direct place in the final after topping the five-team standings with six wins from eight matches.

Mumbai endured a poor start as Sophie Devine (2/23) cleaned up Hayley Matthews (6) with a delivery that stayed low in her opening over and then dismissed Nat Sciver-Brunt (2), with Anushka Sharma taking a fine catch near the deep square-leg boundary.

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Sajeevan Sajana (26) briefly counter-attacked, lofting Kashvee Gautam over deep midwicket and smashing her through point, but the young seamer had the last laugh, dismissing her off the final ball of the over.

Wareham then tightened the screws in the middle overs, returning figures of 2/26, removing Amelia Kerr (20) and Sanskriti Gupta (0) to peg Mumbai back further. Gardner also picked one wicket (1/26) from three overs.

Needing 37 runs off the final two overs with Harmanpreet well set and bringing up her third fifty of the season, Mumbai still fell short. The skipper smashed Gardner for two sixes in the last over, but the target proved beyond reach as they slumped to their first-ever defeat against Gujarat.

Earlier opting to bat, Giants looked in trouble after losing two set batters — Anushka Sharma (33) and Sophie Devine (25) — for the addition of just two runs as the run-rate dipped sharply with disciplined bowling from Amelia Kerr (2/26) and Shabnim Ismail (1/29).

With momentum slipping away, skipper Ashleigh turned the tide dramatically in the 16th over, taking Hayley Matthews to the cleaners for 19 runs.

She began with a powerful hit over deep midwicket and followed it up with three consecutive boundaries. She then attacked Shabnim, smashing four boundaries in a 17-run over. The onslaught spoiled Shabnim’s otherwise economical spell after conceding just 12 runs in her first three overs.

The New Zealand leg-spinner Kerr, however, had the final say, deceiving the GG skipper in flight with a fuller delivery that led to a sharp stumping to end her onslaught.

Gardner struck seven fours and a six in her brisk knock as GG struck 61 runs in the last five overs.

All-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt starred in both departments as Mumbai Indians produced a clinical performance to return to winning ways with a five-wicket victory over a self-destructive Gujarat Giants in their Women’s Premier League match on Tuesday. Sciver-Brunt smashed a 39-ball 57, her second consecutive half-century, after taking two wickets for 26, as MI first bowled out GG for a modest 120 and then chased down the target, scoring 122 for 5 with 3.5 overs to spare. Invited to bat, Gujarat paid the price for their over-aggression, with MI’s bowlers, led by off-spinner Hayley Matthews, delivering a tight performance. Shabnim Ismail (1/17), Amelia Kerr (2/22), and Amanjot Kaur (1/17) also played key roles in restricting Gujarat’s batting. In response, Sciver-Brunt dazzled with a flurry of boundaries, playing cut, pull, sweep, and scoop shots with ease. She hit 11 fours during her innings and was dismissed in the 16th over with just seven runs required to win.

Chasing 121, MI lost Matthews (17), Yastika Bhatia (8) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (4) early as MI slipped to 55-3 in the 8th over.

However, Sciver-Brunt continued to dominate, bringing up her fifty with a four off Ashleigh Gardner in the 14th over. Amelia Kerr (19) also contributed with a six and a four before being dismissed by Gautam.

Earlier, Gujarat’s batting imploded as they tried to muscle the ball rather than build partnerships.

Only two batters in the top six reached double digits, with Harleen Deol top-scoring with a 31-ball 32. Kashvee Gautam (20) and Tanuja Kanwar (13) also got starts but failed to capitalize.

Gujarat were in early trouble, crashing to 16 for 3 in the 4th over, with Beth Mooney (1), Laura Wolvaardt (4), and Dayalan Hemalatha (9) back in the pavilion. Hemalatha has been in poor form for some time.

Gujarat’s in-form skipper, Ashleigh Gardner (10), tried to inject some momentum, pulling Sciver-Brunt for a six, but was dismissed on the very next delivery. Deandra Dottin went for a slog and was stumped by Yastika Bhatia off Kerr, leaving Gujarat at 43 for 5 in 8.2 overs.

Deol and Gautam added 24 runs off 19 balls, with the latter hitting a big six off Ismail. However, Matthews induced a faint edge to dismiss Gautam.

Deol hit two boundaries off Kerr in the 13th over but was dismissed by Amanjot Kaur in the 17th over.

Sayali Satghare (13) hit a couple of boundaries late in the innings to offer some respectability to the total.

Historically, Mumbai Indians have dominated against Gujarat Giants, winning all four previous encounters, including a thrilling last-ball heist in 2024. However, GG have shown early promise in this edition and will be eager to turn the tide, when they face the 2023 champions on Tuesday. Unlike their sluggish start in 2024, where they had to wait five matches for a win, GG registered their first victory in just their second game this time, comfortably defeating UP Warriorz. However, their death bowling remains a concern, with RCB plundering 79 runs off the last 4.3 overs in their opening game loss and UPW smashing 26 in the final eight deliveries of their innings.

Ashleigh Gardner, GG’s captain, will be looking for stronger performances from the top order after their top three combined for just 22 runs against UPW. On the bright side, Deandra Dottin has made an immediate impact in her maiden WPL season, striking at an explosive rate in both outings. Her finishing prowess could be key if GG hope to break their MI jinx.

MI’s campaign began with a narrow loss against Delhi Capitals, marred by three contentious run-out decisions. Despite a flying start led by Nat Sciver-Brunt’s unbeaten 80 and Harmanpreet Kaur’s 42, MI stuttered to 164, with four of their top seven batters falling for single-digit scores. The team will look for more consistent contributions across the batting lineup against GG.

Bowling remains MI’s biggest strength, with four of the top six all-time WPL wicket-takers in their squad: Hayley Matthews (25), Saika Ishaque (24), Amelia Kerr (24), and Sciver-Brunt (21). Their experience and depth will be crucial in countering GG’s batting lineup.

After a modest Ashes campaign, Sciver-Brunt returned to form with a fluent 80* against Delhi. MI will hope for another match-winning knock.

Gardner, the only GG player to achieve the 300-run, 20-wicket double in WPL history, she will be key with both bat and ball.

Deandra Dottin has been a game-changer so far, scoring quick runs in the middle order with an impressive strike rate of 187.09.

The MI captain led from the front with a blistering 95 in their last encounter against GG. Her leadership and middle-order stability will be vital.

Gujarat Giants will seek more runs from their top-order to extend their belligerent run with the bat while Mumbai Indians will look to hit their strides after a tough opener in the Women’s Premier League in Vadodara on Tuesday. Gujarat Giants, who finished last in the previous two seasons, seem to have fix their batting woes with Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner doing the heavy lifting in the first two games. Beth Mooney has scored a fifty at the top of the order but her opening partner Laura Wolvaardt is yet to come good.

Giants amassed 201 in their opening game but still lost before Gardner ensured they gunned down a 144-run target rather comfortably.

The pressure is increasing on the Indian batters to deliver especially number three D Hemalatha.

With the ball as well, captain Gardner has led from the front and has got good support from leg-break bowler Priya Mishra.

Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, would like to put the controversy over multiple run-outs in their tournament opener behind when they take the field against Giants.

The positives from their last-ball loss to Delhi Capitals came via Nat Sciver Brunt and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who both seemed at their destructive best.

Making a comeback from injury, opener Yastika Bhatia needs to have a productive season. Mumbai Indians will also expect more from the lower middle order comprising Sajeevan Sajana and Amanjot Kaur.

Skipper Harmanpreet had rued the lack of partnerships in the middle phase that led to Mumbai Indians losing their way after batting first against Delhi Capitals.

“Playing full 20 overs and whoever is there, that batter should bat till the end. Even myself I should have continued till the end. Our batters need to take more responsibility in the next game,” she said.

On the bowling front, Mumbai Indians can always rely on South Africa pacer Shabnim Ismail, who remains as potent as ever despite retiring from international cricket in 2023.

Gujarat Giants: Beth Mooney (wk), Laura Wolvaardt, Dayalan Hemalatha, Ashleigh Gardner (c), Deandra Dottin, Simran Shaikh, Harleen Deol, Tanuja Kanwar, Sayali Satghare, Priya Mishra, Kashvee Gautam, Meghna Singh, Danielle Gibson, Phoebe Litchfield, Mannat Kashyap, Shabnam Shakil, Prakashika Naik, Bharti Fulmali.

Mumbai Indians: Hayley Matthews, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Amelia Kerr, Sajeevan Sajana, Amanjot Kaur, Jintimani Kalita, Sanskriti Gupta, Shabnim Ismail, Saika Ishaque, Keerthana Balakrishnan, Chloe Tryon, Parunika Sisodia, Amandeep Kaur, G Kamalini, Akshita Maheshwari, Nadine de Klerk.

Skipper Ashleigh Gardner starred with both bat and ball, leading Gujarat Giants to a comprehensive six-wicket win over UP Warriorz in their Women’s Premier League match in Vadodara on Sunday. Gardner (2/39) claimed two wickets and then scored a stylish 32-ball 52, her second consecutive fifty, as Gujarat registered their first win of the third edition of the tournament, following a loss in the opening game to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Opting to bowl, Gujarat produced a clinical effort with young spinner Priya Mishra returning impressive figures of 4-0-25-3. Skipper Gardner, Deandra Dottin (2/34), and Kashvee Gautam (1/15) also played key roles in restricting UPW to 143 for nine.

Chasing 144 to win, the Giants were reduced to 22 for 2 with opener Beth Mooney and Dayalan Hemalata back in the pavilion after UPW introduced spin at both ends. However, Gardner produced an inspired knock, adding 55 runs off 42 balls with Laura Wolvaardt (22) to resurrect the innings.

Gardner struck two fours off Kranti Goud to ease the pressure before depositing Saima Thakor twice into the stands in the fifth over. Wolvaardt also hit a six, as 20 runs came off the over, taking GG to 41 for 2 in six overs.

The GG skipper blasted five fours and three sixes before being dismissed by Tahila McGrath in the 12th over.

However, it had little effect as Harleen Deol (34) and Dottin (33) added 58 runs off 37 balls to take Gujarat home with two overs to spare.

Earlier, UPW skipper Deepti Sharma top-scored with a 27-ball 39, while Uma Chetry (24) and Shweta Sehrawat (16) made useful contributions in the middle-order. Alana King (19) and Saima Thakor (15) combined for a late surge, adding 26 runs off 13 balls to take UPW past 140.

Kiran Navgire and Vrinda Dinesh were dismissed cheaply by Dottin and Gardner as the Warriorz struggled early on. UPW were reduced to 22 for 2 by the third over, with Navgire trapped in front by Dottin and Dinesh was cleaned up by Gardner.

Chetry and Deepti tried to rebuild but were limited by tight bowling from the Gujarat team, with UPW managing just 41 for 2 in the powerplay. Their partnership of 50 runs off 43 balls was broken by Dottin, who removed Chetry.

Mishra then struck twice in three balls, removing Australians Tahlia McGrath and Grace Harris to break UPW’s back, leaving them at 78 for 5 in the 11th over.

Sehrawat and Deepti attempted a recovery, but Gardner’s sensational catch accounted for Deepti as UPW slumped to 117 for 8 by the 18th over.

WPL 2025: GG vs UPW Highlights© BCCI

Gujarat Giants will hope their bowlers complement the batters and fielding shows overall improvement after a crushing defeat in the Women’s Premier League season opener, when they take on the UP Warriorz here on Sunday. Gujarat Giants produced a unified batting show to set a commanding 202-run target against the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru but their bowling frailties were exposed in the first game of the season itself when as many as six options also could not contain the opposition batters.

Richa Ghosh was dropped on the first ball she faced and the India wicketkeeper-batter made GG pay a hefty price for the mistake, striking 64 off only 26 balls (7x4s, 4x6s) to quickly turn the tables.

GG’ Tanuja Kanwar had also spilled Ellyse Perry’s catch when she was batting on two. The Australian great too made the most of the reprieve as she hit a 34-ball 57 to anchor RCB’s record chase.

Gujarat Giants had earlier produced a fine batting show with fifties from former skipper Beth Mooney (56) and incumbent leader Ashleigh Gardner (79 not out) propelling them to 201 for five on a fresh surface here at the Kotambi Stadium.

The opening game of the third season here on Friday was not just the highest match aggregate in WPL but also witnessed highest run chase, implying that batters will continue to make merry and the bowlers will have to keep evolving new plans.

With only one day to turn their focus on the second match, the Giants will be challenged to regroup and find ways to execute better with the ball and the field.

On the other hand, UP Warriorz would take the field under a new captain, India’s Deepti Sharma, after their regular skipper Alyssa Healy opted out of the competition due to a string of injuries.

Deepti has been a vital cog in the Indian teams across formats but the 27-year-old veteran hasn’t held any leadership role with the national side in nearly a decade.

On their part, spin bowling could be described as UP Warriorz’ biggest strength this season after the team which finished fourth in the five-team league last year added Australia’s Alana King to their roster which already boasts of England’s Sophie Ecclestone.

King had a successful run in the women’s Ashes taking nine wickets in the only Tests as well as 17 more wickets in the limited-overs series. Along with King and Ecclestone, the Warriorz have India’s Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Deepti, Gouher Sultana as well as others in Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu and Grace Harris.

Their overall firepower pits Warriorz as the favourites for this clash given they have the formidable trio of Tahlia McGrath, Harris and Athapaththu to pick from in the batting.

The Indian talent strength is also impressive with the likes of young batters Uma Chetry, Vrinda Dinesh, Arushi Goel and the experienced Kiran Navgire in the mix, while among bowlers Saima Thakor will be looking to add a few wickets to her kitty after a dry run in the series against West Indies and Ireland.

Teams:

Gujarat Giants: Ashleigh Gardner (c), Bharti Fulmali, Laura Wolvaardt, Phoebe Litchfield, Simran Shaikh, Danielle Gibson, Dayalan Hemalatha, Deandra Dottin, Harleen Deol, Sayali Satghare, Tanuja Kanwar, Beth Mooney (wk), Kashvee Gautam, Mannat Kashyap, Meghna Singh, Prakashika Naik, Priya Mishra, Shabnam Shakil.

UP Warriorz: Deepti Sharma (c), Arushi Goel, Kiran Navgire, Shweta Sehrawat, Vrinda Dinesh, Chamari Athapaththu, Chinelle Henry, Grace Harris, Kranti Goud, Poonam Khemnar, Sophie Ecclestone, Tahlia McGrath, Uma Chetry (wk), Alana King, Anjali Sarvani, Gouher Sultana, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Saima Thakor.

Match starts at 7:30pm IST. 

Richa Ghosh and Ellyse Perry smashed forceful fifties as Royal Challengers Bengaluru pulled off the highest run chase in the history of Women’s Premier League to register a thrilling six-wicket win over Gujarat Giants in Vadodara on Friday. Perry (57, 34b, 6×4, 2×6) and Ghosh (64 not out, 27b, 7×4, 4×6) were in sublime touch as defending champions RCB scaled down the target of 202 with ease in the tournament opener. It was a remarkable turnaround for RCB as they were tottering at 14 for two after second over, as Ashleigh Gardner ousted openers Smriti Mandhana (9) Danny Wyatt (4) in the space of four balls.

But from thereon, Perry and Raghavi Bist (25, 27b) added 86 runs for the third wicket to steady the ship, before the latter fell to pacer Deandra Dottin.

Perry, who was dropped on 19, made full use of that chance to punish Giants bowlers, who were highly wayward and buckled under pressure.

Perry, who is still recovering from a hip injury that she sustained during the recent Women’s Ashes, brought up her fifty with a six off Dottin off 27 balls.

The Aussie soon fell to Sayali Satghare while trying to up the ante, but Ghosh and Kanika Ahuja (30 not out, 13b, 4×4) took over from that point.

They pummelled the clueless GG bowlers during their 93-run stand as Ghosh, who was dropped on zero, made them pay with a 23-ball fifty.

It was enough for RCB to canter home as they whittled down 64 runs off the last five overs.

Earlier, contrasting fifties by skipper Gardner and veteran Beth Mooney guided Gujarat Giants to a healthy 201/5.

Mooney was conventional while striking 56 off 42 (8×4) but Gardner was all fire and brimstone en route a 79 off 37 balls (3×4, 8×6).

After losing Laura Wolvaardt and D Hemalatha with 41 on the board, Gujarat recovered well through Mooney and Gardner.

The Aussie pair added 44 runs for the third wicket, before Mooney perished playing a pull off leg-spinner Prema Rawat, giving a simple catch to Smriti Mandhana. But a bigger storm was awaiting RCB, as Gardner and West Indian Dottin (25, 13b, 3×4, 1×6) added 67 runs in just over five overs.

Unlike Mooney, who relied on placement, Gardner was more aggressive, using feet against spinners and hitting easily through the line against pacers.

The Australian gave a belting to Prema and India U19 pacer VJ Joshitha, clobbering them for three sixes each in an over.

Dottin fell to pacer Renuka Singh while going for a mighty heave.

Captains of Gujarat Giants, UP Warriorz, Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians pose with sponsors during the Women’s Premier League season 3, in Vadodara.dia on the 13th February 2025.
| Photo Credit: Sportzpics for WPL

Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Smriti Mandhana won the toss and elected to field against Gujarat Giants in the first match of the third season of Women’s Premier League, in Vadodara on Friday (February 14, 2025).

The injury-hit and defending champions RCB picked Ellyse Perry, Georgia Wareham, Danielle Wyatt-Hodge and Kim Garth as their four overseas players while handing debuts to Prema Rawat, Joshitha VJ and Raghvi Bisht.

Gujarat Giants handed debuts to five players including West Indies’ Deandra Dottin.

Teams:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Smriti Mandhana (c), Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, Ellyse Perry, Raghvi Bist, Richa Ghosh (wk), Kanika Ahuja, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth, Prema Rawat, Joshitha VJ, Renuka Singh Thakur.

Gujarat Giants: Laura Wolvaardt, Beth Mooney (wk), Dayalan Hemalatha, Ashleigh Gardner (c), Deandra Dottin, Harleen Deol, Simran Shaikh, Tanuja Kanwar, Sayali Satghare, Priya Mishra, Kashvee Gautam.