Gujarat Giants have finally beaten Mumbai Indians for the first time in WPL history. It was a special and memorable win for the team. It’s not just a landmark victory but a result that also propels them into the playoffs. A composed all-round effort sees the Giants clinch the contest by 11 runs.
Earlier in the day, Gujarat Giants won the toss and opted to bat first in what was a crucial encounter. Their innings got off to a shaky start as Beth Mooney was dismissed inside the powerplay by Shabnim Ismail for 5. Sophie Devine and Anushka Sharma then came together and stitched a 48-run stand off 43 balls for the second wicket, steadying the innings well. Just when the Giants looked set to build on that partnership, both batters fell in back-to-back overs as Mumbai Indians pulled things back brilliantly. From a precarious position of 70/3 in 10.1 overs, Georgia Wareham and Ash Gardner came together and rebuilt the innings before accelerating as the overs ticked by. The duo added a vital 71 runs off just 43 balls, shifting gears at the right time and taking the Giants past the 150-run mark.
Ash Gardner played a fluent knock but was eventually dismissed for 46 off 28 balls by Amelia Kerr. Georgia Wareham held her nerve till the end, remaining unbeaten on a valuable 44 off 26 deliveries, as Gujarat Giants posted a strong total of 167/4 from their 20 overs. Amelia Kerr was the standout bowler for Mumbai Indians, finishing with impressive figures of 2/26.
Gujarat Giants beat Mumbai Indians for the first time, seal playoff spot with 11-run win
In reply, Mumbai Indians got off to a cautious start at the top of the order. Openers Hayley Matthews and Sajeevan Sajana struggled to find momentum inside the powerplay, consuming far too many dot balls. Matthews was dismissed in the 5th over for 6 off 8 deliveries, and Sajana soon followed in the next over, departing for 26 off 25 balls. As a result, Mumbai Indians found themselves under pressure at 33/2 at the end of the powerplay.
Sophie Devine struck in the 7th over to remove Nat Sciver-Brunt, leaving Mumbai Indians in a spot of bother. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Amelia Kerr then tried to rebuild, adding 45 runs for the fourth wicket and keeping the chase alive. Just when the partnership was gaining momentum, Kerr was dismissed against the run of play for 20 by Georgia Wareham. The pressure continued to mount, and Gayakwad picked up another key wicket by removing Amanjot Kaur for 13 in the 17th over.
The entire responsibility rested on the shoulders of Mumbai Indians skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (82*), who was left fighting a lone battle with very little support from the other end. She batted right till the end and gave it her all, but the asking rate proved too steep in the closing stages. With 26 runs needed off the final over, Ash Gardner held her nerve and defended it successfully. Gujarat Giants eventually sealed the contest with an 11-run victory and booked their place in the playoffs.
Updated WPL 2026 Points Table
| Team | P | W | L | NR | CupR | NRR | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1.79 | +1.247 | 12 |
| Gujarat Giants Women | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2.92 | -0.168 | 10 |
| Mumbai Indians Women | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 2.7 | +0.059 | 6 |
| Delhi Capitals Women | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2.74 | -0.164 | 6 |
| UP Warriorz Women | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 21 | -1.146 | 4 |
