The Women’s Premier League 2025 has been nothing short of exciting, and the Mumbai Indians have finally opened their winning account. After a tough defeat against Delhi in their opening match, Mumbai turned things around impressively against the Gujarat Giants in the fifth match held at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. The match displayed Mumbai’s dominance, making it clear why they are seen as one of the formidable teams in women’s cricket.
Gujarat Giants Outclassed in a One-Sided Encounter
Captained by Harmanpreet Kaur, the Mumbai Indians won the toss and chose to bowl first, a decision that proved beneficial yet again, as teams opting to bowl have had an edge this season. The Gujarat Giants struggled to build a substantial innings, managing to score only 120 runs in their allotted 20 overs before getting all out. Harleen Deol topped the scoring charts for the Giants with just 32 runs, highlighting their batting troubles as no other player surpassed the 20-run mark.
Dominant Bowling Performance by Mumbai
On the bowling front, Hayley Matthews emerged as Mumbai’s star bowler, conceding just 16 runs in her 4 overs while taking 3 crucial wickets. Amelia Kerr and Nat Sciver-Brunt also contributed by taking 2 wickets each, further crippling the Gujarat batting line-up. Shabnim Ismail added to the devastation with a wicket of her own, underscoring the team’s rich bowling depth.
Nat Sciver-Brunt’s Exceptional Half-Century
Chasing a modest target of 121 runs, Nat Sciver-Brunt played a match-winning innings, scoring 57 runs off just 39 balls, laced with 11 boundaries. This marked her second consecutive half-century in the tournament, having also scored a fifty in the previous match. Contributions from Hayley Matthews and Amelia Kerr, who scored 17 and 19 runs respectively, ensured that Mumbai achieved the target comfortably with 5 wickets in hand and in just 16.1 overs. This victory marks the fifth consecutive win for the Mumbai Indians against the Gujarat Giants, showcasing the latter’s inability to secure a win against them in the Women’s Premier League to date.
Conclusion: Mumbai Indians Back in the Race
With this resounding victory, the Mumbai Indians have not only opened their account but have also sent a clear message to the rest of the teams in the Women’s Premier League 2025. Their combination of solid bowling and explosive batting makes them a team to watch as the tournament progresses. Fans are eagerly anticipating how they will perform in the upcoming matches and if they can maintain this momentum to challenge for the title.