West Indies all-rounder Hayley Matthews delivered a match-winning performance as Mumbai Indians Women edged past Gujarat Giants Women by nine runs in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) on Monday. The victory propelled Mumbai above their opponents in the standings and strengthened their chances of securing a direct spot in the final.
Batting first, Mumbai Indians posted a competitive 179 for 6 in their 20 overs, thanks to a captain’s knock from Harmanpreet Kaur, who smashed 54 off 33 balls with nine boundaries. Matthews also played a crucial role at the top of the order, scoring 27 off 22 deliveries, hitting three fours and two sixes before falling to Priya Mishra in the seventh over. Nat Sciver-Brunt added 38 off 31, while Amanjot Kaur chipped in with a quickfire 27 off 15 balls to ensure Mumbai reached a formidable total.
For Gujarat, Deandra Dottin endured a tough day with the ball, conceding 44 runs in her four overs without taking a wicket. However, she made a significant contribution in the field, running out Yastika Bhatia (13 off 4) in the final over as Mumbai looked to maximize their total.
In reply, Gujarat got off to a shaky start, losing Beth Mooney (7), Kashvee Gautam (10), and Ashleigh Gardner (0) within the first seven overs. The pressure increased when Phoebe Litchfield fell for 22 off 16, and when Dottin was dismissed for 10 off 11 in the 13th over, Gujarat’s hopes appeared to be fading. However, Bharti Fulmali revived their chase with a breathtaking innings, smashing 61 off just 25 balls, striking eight fours and four sixes at an astonishing strike rate of 244.
Fulmani smashed 61 from 25 balls
As Fulmali unleashed her power, Gujarat suddenly found themselves in contention, needing 13 runs off the final over, which was entrusted to Matthews despite her conceding 35 runs in her previous three overs.
The drama intensified as Matthews dropped a catch off Simran Shaikh but quickly recovered to effect a crucial run-out of Tanuja Kanwar, leaving Gujarat reeling. Two balls later, she clean-bowled Shaikh for 18 off 16, further tilting the balance in Mumbai’s favour. The final moments saw Priya Mishra and Meghna Singh scrambling for singles, leaving 11 required off the last two deliveries. Mishra attempted an audacious reverse lap but failed to make contact, sealing Mumbai’s victory in a thrilling finish.
With the win, Mumbai maintained their perfect record against Gujarat at the Brabourne Stadium and now have a strong chance of securing a top-two finish. Gujarat, despite Fulmali’s heroics, will have to fight their way through the playoffs if they are to challenge for the title. Matthews, who had a crucial all-round impact, contributing both with the bat and in the decisive final over, once again underlined her value as one of the premier players in the WPL.