‌AI Simulation, WPL | Mumbai Indians confirm playoff spot and leave Gujarat Giants with win in Vadodara

Pitch and Weather

Vadodara once again offered a dry and even surface that allowed batters to trust the bounce early in the innings. The pitch played true during the powerplay before slowing slightly as the match progressed, bringing spinners into the game through the middle overs. Temperatures stayed around 28 degrees Celsius under clear skies. Dew began to settle in during the second innings, making chasing the preferred option and easing strokeplay later in the night.

Toss

Mumbai Indians Women won the toss and chose to bowl first, a decision influenced by the dry conditions and the expectation of dew in the second half of the match.

Lineups

Gujarat Giants-W: Beth Mooney (wk), Sophie Devine, Anushka Sharma, Ashleigh Gardner (c), Georgia Wareham, Bharti Fulmali, Kanika Ahuja, Kashvee Gautam, Tanuja Kanwar, Renuka Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad

Mumbai Indians-W: Hayley Matthews, Sajeevan Sajana, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Amelia Kerr, Rahila Firdous (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Sanskriti Gupta, Poonam Khemnar, Vaishnavi Sharma

Match Report

Opting to bat first, Gujarat Giants began with a cautious approach against the new ball. Beth Mooney once again played the role of stabiliser, finding gaps square of the wicket and rotating strike efficiently. Sophie Devine looked to be positive in the powerplay, but Mumbai struck at regular intervals to avoid allowing Gujarat to build momentum. Anushka Sharma fell cheaply, and Devine followed soon after, leaving Gujarat needing consolidation.

That stability came through Ashleigh Gardner, who combined sensible shot selection with timely boundary hitting. Alongside Mooney, she rebuilt the innings through the middle overs, ensuring Gujarat remained on course for a competitive total. Mooney’s dismissal slowed the scoring rate, and despite Georgia Wareham adding some late runs, Gujarat struggled to accelerate at the death. Amelia Kerr’s tight spell and Nat Sciver-Brunt’s control with the ball restricted Gujarat to 156 for seven, a total that felt slightly below par given the conditions.

Mumbai’s reply began steadily, with Hayley Matthews finding boundaries early before Renuka Singh struck twice in the powerplay to keep Gujarat in the contest. The key phase of the chase came when Nat Sciver-Brunt and Harmanpreet Kaur joined forces. The pair batted with clarity, focusing on singles and low-risk boundaries while ensuring the required rate never climbed out of control.

Sciver-Brunt anchored the innings expertly, absorbing pressure and punishing loose deliveries, while Harmanpreet provided momentum with timely strikes over the infield. Once the partnership was broken, Mumbai needed only a handful of runs, and Amelia Kerr ensured there were no late complications. The chase was completed with seven balls remaining, underlining Mumbai’s superior control in key moments.

Player of the Match

Nat Sciver-Brunt was named Player of the Match for her match-defining half-century in the chase and her two crucial wickets earlier in the innings, which together shaped the outcome of the game.