MI crush GG by 47 runs to enter the final of WPL 2025
Number game
| MI | GG | |
| 1st Powerplay (1st 6 overs) | 37/1 | 46/3 |
| 50 up in | 7 overs | 6.4 overs |
| 10 overs | 89/1 | 88/4 |
| 12 overs | 111/1 – score is mostly doubled from here in T20s | 107/5 |
| 100 up in | 11 overs | 11 overs |
| 15 overs | 140/1 | 134/6 |
| 150 up in | 15.2 overs | 16.2 overs |
| 20 overs | 213/4 | All out in 19.2 overs |
| Most expensive over played | 22 runs of the 18th over bowled by Tanuja Kanwer | 15 runs of the 15th over bowled by Natalie Sciver-Brunt |
| 1st 50 | 42 balls | 34 balls |
| 2nd 50 | 24 balls | 32 balls |
| 3rd 50 | 26 balls | 32 balls |
| 4th 50 | 23 balls | – |
| FOW | 26/1 | 159/2 | 198/3 | 213/4 | 6/1 | 34/2 | 43/3 | 81/4 | 107/5 | 112/6 | 142/7 | 157/8 | 165/9 | 166/10 |
| Dot balls played | 39 balls | 48 balls |
| Batters facing spin | 9 overs | 8.2 overs |
| Batters falling to spin | 0 out of 3 wickets to spin (1 was run out) | 5 out of 7 wickets to spin (3 were run out) |
| Dropped catches | GG dropped 4 catches | MI did not drop catches |
WPL 2023 champions Mumbai Indians handed a crushing 47-run defeat to Gujarat Giants, who made it to the play-offs for the first time in three editions, on Thursday at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai to set a final date with two time finalists Delhi Capitals.
Batting first, Mumbai Indians employed the tried and tested opening pair in Yastika Bhatia (Amelia Kerr opened the batting with Hayley Matthews in the last three matches) and Hayley Matthews. However, after a steady start, southpaw Bhatia (15 off 14) perished in the fifth over while attempting to up the ante. Danielle Gibson, who replaced injured Deandra Dottin, on WPL debut, struck in her first over of the spell. Despite the early wicket, Mumbai Indians continued to pile on runs at a good pace, courtesy of Matthews and Natalie Sciver-Brunt. The duo put together 133 runs off just 71 balls for the second wicket, and put their side in a formidable position. Against the run of play, Matthews (77 off 50) after scoring her third half-century of WPL 2025, was dismissed by Kashvee Gautam. The West Indian captain rode on her luck as she was gifted two lives by Gujarat Giants, on 5 and 57. While the first opportunity was tough one for wicket-keeper Beth Mooney off Ashleigh Gardner’s bowling, the second chance was easy for Gardner at long on off Gibson’s bowling.
Despite losing her partner in crime, Sciver-Brunt continued to send Gujarat Giants’ bowlers on leather hunt. The English all-rounder hammered 77 off 41 powering Mumbai Indians to 198 inside 19 overs. In the process, the right-hander registered her fifth half-century of WPL 2025. Towards the end, captain Harmanpreet Kaur went hammer and tongs smashing 36 off 12 to steer her team to a commanding 213 in 20 overs.
Gujarat Giants’ bowlers and fielders had a forgettable day in the park. While the bowlers managed to pick just three wickets, they didn’t receive much support from the fielders, who dropped as many as four catches in this all important clash.
In reply, chasing a Herculean 214 for a place in the final, Gujarat Giants received a setback in the first over. Mumbai Indians’ drew first blood as pace sensation Shabnim Ismail got the better of Beth Mooney (6 off 5). Soon, Harleen Deol (8 off 9) was run out by young Sanskriti Gupta who fielded brilliantly well at point and then threw straight into the hands of wicket-keeper Bhatia to do the rest. While the expectations from skipper Gardner (8 off 4) were sky high, she disappointed the fans as she made the long way back to dug out in the last over of powerplay bowled by Matthews. When the chips were down for visitors, Gibson and Phoebe Litchfield combined forces for a 38-run partnership. However, the debutant was run out while attempting a second run on this ground, where not too many twos have been scored.
Later, when Gujarat Giants lost Litchfield (31 off 20) in the 12th over with another 107 runs to get, they arguably lost the hopes of making it to their first-ever WPL final. In-form Bharti Fulmali (30 off 20), local girl Simran Shaikh (17 off 8), and Tanuja Kanwer (16 off 12) got off to solid starts but could not capitalise. In the end, Gujarat Giants were bowled out for 166 in 19.2 overs, falling short of 47 runs.
Mumbai Indians’ bowlers and fielders were on song as they were completely switched on, on the field. The Purple Cap changed heads within the team as it was passed on from leggie Amelia Kerr (2/28) to her spin twin Hayley Matthews (3/31). Shabnim Ismail (1/35) and Sciver-Brunt (1/31) were the other wicket-takers.
With this win, Mumbai Indians, the champions of WPL 2023 meet their familiar foes Delhi Capitals, who will play their third final in as many editions of WPL, on Saturday at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. These two teams played the final of WPL 2023 also at the same venue.