Navi Mumbai, Jan 13 (NationPress) Georgia Wareham's unbeaten 43 runs and a stellar finish by Bharti Fulmali (36 not out off 15 balls) propelled the Gujarat Giants to a formidable total of 192/5 in their 20 overs against the Mumbai Indians during the sixth match of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on Tuesday.

Opting to bat first, the Gujarat Giants commenced their innings with an impressive display, amassing 62 runs for 1 wicket during the Power-play, asserting early dominance. Beth Mooney capitalized on a missed opportunity by G. Kamalini off Shabnim Ismail in the opening over, delivering a series of powerful strikes that punished the reigning champions.

On the other hand, Hayley Matthews and Nicola Carey struggled to contain the aggressive run rate. Kamalini redeemed herself with a smart catch behind the stumps after Ismail provided MI with a breakthrough by dismissing Sophie Devine, but the Giants continued to hold their ground. Kanika Ahuja, promoted to No. 3, played a vital role, ensuring Gujarat maintained a commanding position through the powerplay.

Ahuja launched a noteworthy attack against Ismail, hitting a boundary before following up with a six and another boundary against Matthews. However, Amelia Kerr managed to halt the momentum by dismissing the well-set Beth Mooney (33 runs) in her first over, breaking a significant partnership of 42 runs.

Despite a tidy start, Amelia Kerr couldn't contain the onslaught in her second over, yielding 14 runs as Gujarat seized control again. Ahuja and Ashleigh Gardner began to find the boundaries effortlessly, applying pressure on the MI bowlers. Skipper Ashleigh made a swift 20 runs off 11 balls before getting trapped LBW.

As the innings progressed past the halfway mark, the Gujarat Giants were well-placed at 99 for 3. However, following the dismissal of Kanika (35 runs off 18 balls) in the 11th over, Mumbai began to regain their footing.

The MI bowlers fought back, applying pressure on the Giants batters. In a surprising tactical shift, Ayushi was retired in the 16th over after contributing just 11 runs, a decision that proved crucial for the innings' outcome.

Entering the fray, Fulmali reversed the tide for the Gujarat innings. After narrowly escaping two LBW appeals, she unleashed a breathtaking display of power-hitting, scoring an impressive 36 runs off just 15 balls, which included three fours and three sixes in the closing overs.

Supporting her, Wareham showcased a calm batting approach, finishing with 43 not out. The final over alone contributed 23 runs, culminating in a staggering 62 runs added in the last five overs. Ultimately, the Giants concluded their innings at a formidable 192 runs for the loss of 5 wickets, setting the stage for a daunting chase for the Mumbai Indians.

For the Mumbai Indians, Shabnim Ismail, Hayley Matthews, Nicola Carey, and Amelia Kerr each claimed a wicket.

Brief scores:

Gujarat Giants 192/5 in 20 overs (Georgia Wareham 43 not out, Bharti Fulmali 36 not out; Shabnim Ismail 1-25, Hayley Matthews 1-34) against Mumbai Indians.