The Mumbai Indians have booked their spot in the Women’s Premier League final with a dominant 47-run victory over the Gujarat Giants in Thursday’s Eliminator at Brabourne Stadium.
Chasing a 214-run target for victory, the Giants were rolled for 166 in 19.2 overs, with Mumbai all-rounder Hayley Matthews scoring a half-century and taking three wickets in an all-round masterclass.
England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt struck 77 (41) to steer Mumbai towards 4-213, the second-highest team total in WPL history, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur clobbered a 12-ball 36 at the death.
Having secured seven consecutive wins over the Giants, Mumbai will face the Delhi Capitals for this weekend’s tournament decider at the same venue in a repeat of the 2023 final.
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After Gujarat captain Ash Gardner won the toss and chose to bowl first, Matthews (77 off 50 balls) and Sciver-Brunt combined for a 133-run stand for the second wicket, the club’s equal-highest partnership in WPL history. It was Sciver-Brunt’s fifth half-century of the campaign, making her tournament’s leading run-scorer with 493.
The Giants were guilty of four costly dropped catches and several sloppy misfields, with Kaur clearing the boundary rope four times during her late cameo.
In response, Gujarat collapsed to 3-43 in the sixth over with Australians Beth Mooney and Gardner back in the sheds before compatriot Phoebe Litchfield notched 31 (20). Matthews claimed 3-31 from 3.2 overs, making her the leading wicket-taker of the tournament, while New Zealand leg-spinner Amelia Kerr snared two scalps.
Giants all-rounder Deandra Dottin was ruled out of the match due to an eleventh-hour injury setback, with replacement Danielle Gibson claiming 2-40 and scoring a 24-ball 34.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure to lead this side,” Gardner said after the defeat.
“This group has got a lot to be proud of – so many positive stories, different people have stood up at different times, young players putting their name up in lights – that is what it is all about in tournaments like this.”
The WPL final between Delhi and Mumbai gets underway on Sunday at 1.30am AEDT.
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