Nat Sciver-Brunt’s majestic batting, Hayley Matthews’ middle-overs acceleration, and Harmanpreet Kaur’s power-hitting propelled Mumbai Indians to a formidable total of 213 in the Eliminator.
The target proved insurmountable for Gujarat Giants, as Mumbai’s 47-run victory extended their unbeaten streak to 7-0 against the Giants and secured their spot in their second WPL final in three years. They will now face Delhi Capitals on Saturday in a rematch of the 2023 finale.
Table of Contents
Missed Chances And Early Wickets Derail Giants’ Knockout Hopes
Gujarat Giants faced a major setback ahead of their first knockout game in three WPL seasons, as allrounder Deandra Dottin was ruled out just five minutes before the toss due to injury, leading to England’s Danielle Gibson stepping in as her replacement. Their struggles continued on the field, with sloppy fielding and four dropped catches proving costly.
In the chase, Giants lost their top three run-scorers of the season—Beth Mooney, Harleen Deol, and Ashleigh Gardner—inside the powerplay, as Mumbai capitalized with sharp catches and crucial run-outs. Phoebe Litchfield provided some resistance with a brisk 31 off 20 balls, but her dismissal—stumped off Amelia Kerr—left Giants reeling at 107 for 5, with an asking rate soaring beyond 13 runs per over, sealing their fate.
Matthews, Sciver-Brunt Lay Strong Foundation for Mumbai
Opting to bat first, Mumbai Indians reinstated Yastika Bhatia as their opener, but her struggles continued. Despite striking three boundaries in a cautious powerplay, she fell for 14, pulling Danielle Gibson to midwicket.
Her dismissal brought in the ever-reliable Nat Sciver-Brunt, who wasted no time settling in alongside a watchful Hayley Matthews. Matthews started slow, managing just 17 off her first 22 balls, but Sciver-Brunt’s aggressive intent sparked her acceleration. As Sciver-Brunt ended the seventh over with consecutive boundaries, Matthews responded with three in a row off Priya Mishra, pushing the run rate past eight an over.
Gujarat Giants’ bowlers erred by frequently bowling short, a length Mumbai’s batters punished. Their fielding woes compounded the misery, with Simran Shaikh and Kashvee Gautam misfielding to concede crucial boundaries. Matthews found her rhythm, smashing a six off Tanuja Kanwar to bring up her fifty off 36 balls and helping Mumbai reach 100 in just 11 overs.
At 111 for 1 after 12 overs, Gujarat momentarily slowed Mumbai’s charge as Meghna Singh and Mishra conceded just 13 runs in two overs. But with a solid platform at 124 for 1 and six overs remaining, Mumbai was primed to launch into overdrive.
Harmanpreet Unleashes ‘Harmonster’ Mode to Crush Giants Again
As Nat Sciver-Brunt smashed Danielle Gibson over deep midwicket and long-on to reach a 29-ball fifty, Harmanpreet Kaur was already in the dugout, helmet on, shadow-batting in anticipation of her turn. Meanwhile, Gujarat Giants’ fielding woes continued, with Ashleigh Gardner dropping Hayley Matthews on 57—an error that proved costly.
Matthews immediately made them pay, launching back-to-back sixes off Priya Mishra, followed by a fortunate top-edge boundary. However, her luck ran out at 77 off 50 balls when she edged Kashvee Gautam behind, with Beth Mooney taking a sharp catch standing up.
Harmanpreet, averaging nearly 79 against the Giants before this match, could have departed early, but Mishra spilled a chance at midwicket when she was on just 1. That miss turned out to be disastrous as Harmanpreet shifted into ‘Harmonster’ mode, opening up her stance and attacking everything in her arc.
She tore into Tanuja Kanwar in the 18th over, smashing 6, 4, 4—including a misfield—before finishing with her signature slog sweep for another six, plundering 22 runs off the over. Sciver-Brunt also benefited from a dropped chance but eventually fell for 93, just seven runs short of 500 for the season and three short of 1000 in the WPL overall.
In the final over, Harmanpreet capitalized on two balls in the slot, dispatching both for sixes. However, Meghna Singh held her nerve, conceding just two runs off the next three balls before nailing a yorker that resulted in Harmanpreet’s run-out for 36, bringing an explosive finish to Mumbai’s innings.
Mumbai’s Fielders Set the Standard Under Pressure
Despite the presence of dew, Mumbai Indians showcased a fielding masterclass that proved to be a game-changer. It took just five balls for them to make an impact as Shabnim Ismail found Beth Mooney’s edge, and Hayley Matthews, stationed at first slip, dived to her right to complete a sharp catch with both hands.
The fielding brilliance continued in the fifth over when Harleen Deol and Danielle Gibson had a mix-up, allowing 20-year-old Sanskriti Gupta to make a diving stop at point and fire a quick throw to the wicketkeeper, catching Deol short. Just before the halfway mark, Amanjot Kaur’s pinpoint throw from the deep found Gibson short despite a desperate dive, further denting the Giants’ chase.
Meanwhile, Ashleigh Gardner’s struggles continued as she lost her off stump while attempting a wild swing against Matthews, leaving Giants reeling at 43 for 3 in the powerplay. Phoebe Litchfield tried to revive the innings, showing class with her footwork and stylish boundaries against Ismail. However, when she stepped out once too often against Amelia Kerr and missed, Yastika Bhatia made no mistake in whipping off the bails, all but sealing Giants’ fate.
Giants Crumble as Mumbai’s Fielding Seals the Win
Already struggling in the chase, Gujarat Giants’ woes deepened with yet another run-out. Kashvee Gautam became the latest victim of poor running when she attempted a quick single, only for Harmanpreet Kaur to fire in a direct hit from cover, reducing Giants to six down.
With 102 runs needed from just 42 balls, their last glimmer of hope rested on Bharti Fulmali. She provided a brief spark, launching Amanjot Kaur for a straight six, flicking Amelia Kerr to the boundary, and slicing Hayley Matthews for back-to-back fours. However, her resistance was short-lived as Matthews outfoxed her with a quicker delivery, shattering the stumps as Fulmali attempted another cut.
Mumbai’s fielding brilliance continued till the end. Harmanpreet showcased her athleticism with a diving catch to dismiss Simran Shaikh, while Nat Sciver-Brunt put the final nail in the coffin with a sharp grab at deep midwicket. The dominant performance sealed Mumbai’s emphatic victory, highlighting their all-round superiority.
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FAQs
How did Mumbai Indians secure their spot in the WPL final?
Mumbai Indians posted a massive 213-run total, thanks to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews, and Harmanpreet Kaur’s power-hitting, and later dominated Gujarat Giants with their sharp fielding to win by 47 runs.
What went wrong for Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator?
The Giants suffered from poor fielding, dropping four crucial catches, and lost key batters Beth Mooney, Harleen Deol, and Ashleigh Gardner early in the chase, which derailed their innings.
Who were Mumbai Indians’ standout performers in the match?
Hayley Matthews (77 off 50), Nat Sciver-Brunt (fifty off 29), and Harmanpreet Kaur’s explosive finish powered Mumbai’s total, while their fielders ensured a clinical victory.
How did Harmanpreet Kaur impact the game?
Harmanpreet played a blistering knock, took a diving catch, and executed a direct-hit run-out, proving to be a game-changer for Mumbai Indians.
Who will Mumbai Indians face in the WPL 2024 final?
Mumbai Indians will take on Delhi Capitals in a rematch of the 2023 WPL final, aiming for their second title in three years.
