WPL 2025: Gardner remains hopeful despite Gujarat's defeat as Mumbai maintains their dominance

Mumbai, March 10 (NationPress) Despite facing a sixth straight defeat against the Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), Gujarat Giants captain Ashleigh Gardner remained hopeful about overcoming them in the knockout stages following their narrow nine-run loss at the Brabourne Stadium.

Choosing to bat first, the Mumbai Indians established a strong foundation, thanks to a consistent start from Hayley Matthews (27 off 22) and Nat Sciver-Brunt (38 off 31). However, it was captain Harmanpreet Kaur who took charge with a well-paced 54 off 33 balls, combining innovative shots with powerful hitting. Amanjot Kaur played a perfect finishing role, smashing 27 off just 15 deliveries, while Yastika Bhatia added 13 off four balls, propelling MI to a total of 179/6.

With a new opening pair of Kashvee Gautam and Beth Mooney, Gujarat aimed for a solid start. Mooney struck Shabnim Ismail for an early boundary, but Mumbai's tight bowling quickly put them under pressure. Mooney was dismissed for just 7 off 9 balls, caught at cover off Hayley Matthews.

Harleen Deol injected some momentum with a fluent 24 off 17, but her dismissal via DRS off Amelia Kerr proved pivotal. Kashvee Gautam (10 off 14) struggled for rhythm before being stumped off debutant Sanskriti Gupta, while Gardner herself was out for a duck, edging Ismail to slip.

"We knew this was a high-scoring venue, and we could have limited them to 160. When we fail to save runs, it becomes crucial in the second innings. However, we had the comfort of knowing we are in the finals, so we had the leeway to try and win quickly," Gardner stated post-match. "Bharti Fulmali showcased her potential, which gives her ample confidence for the final. We hope to improve our record against Mumbai in the crucial game."

As the match drifted away, Bharti Fulmali stepped in at No. 7 and altered the course significantly. She launched an exhilarating counterattack, scoring 61 off just 25 balls, making her the second batter in WPL history to achieve a fifty from No. 7 or lower.

Fulmali challenged Mumbai’s seasoned bowling lineup with fearless stroke play, hitting Amelia Kerr for a six and a four in a single over. She received support from Simran Shaikh (18 off 10) and Tanuja Kanwar (10 off 6), as Gujarat neared an improbable victory.

With five overs remaining, Gujarat needed 50 runs, and with Fulmali in top form, Mumbai began to feel the heat.

However, just as Gujarat appeared poised for something remarkable, Fulmali fell at a critical moment, misplaying a shot off Amelia Kerr. Tanuja Kanwar’s unfortunate run-out compounded Gujarat’s challenges, and despite Simran Shaikh hitting a six over long-on, Mumbai’s experience prevailed in the closing moments. Matthews took out Shaikh, and Priya Mishra’s desperate review for an LBW decision proved inconsequential as she fell the very next ball, cementing Mumbai’s victory.

Player of the Match Harmanpreet Kaur acknowledged Gujarat’s batters, particularly Fulmali, for pushing the match to a nail-biting finish.

"We bowled well in segments, but we must credit their batters; they kept the match alive, and we must learn from our oversights. We will reassess what went awry, and in the next match, we will adapt. We set a respectable total, and we were competitive in the first 10 overs, but credit to Bharti for her outstanding innings today. The wicket always plays a role in match-ups, and the key aspect is gut feeling; we’re fortunate to have considerable experience in our bowling unit," said Harmanpreet after the match.

Mumbai’s bowlers were instrumental, with Amelia Kerr (3-34), Hayley Matthews (3-38), and Shabnim Ismail (2-17) excelling under pressure.