Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham Lead Gujarat Giants to 167/4 Against Mumbai Indians

Vadodara, Jan 2026 : In a high-stakes clash of the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) at the BCA Stadium, Kotambi on Friday, Gujarat Giants posted a challenging total of 167/4 against Mumbai Indians, thanks to captain Ashleigh Gardner’s 46 and Georgia Wareham’s unbeaten 44. The duo’s resilient partnership steadied the innings after early setbacks and injected momentum into GG’s run chase on a slow, tricky pitch.

Gujarat Giants lost opener Beth Mooney cheaply for five in the third over, brilliantly caught by Sajeevan Sajana off Shabnim Ismail. In response, Sophie Devine (25) and Anushka Sharma (33) stitched together a 48-run partnership to stabilize the innings. Both players looked set but were dismissed in successive overs by Amelia Kerr (2/26) and Nat Sciver-Brunt — Anushka mistimed a googly to long-on, while Sophie pulled straight to deep mid-wicket.

With the score at 71/3, GG’s captain Ashleigh Gardner and Georgia Wareham rebuilt the innings with a smart and patient approach. Their 71-run stand off 43 balls not only steadied the ship but also accelerated the scoring in the death overs. Gardner unleashed a flurry of boundaries in the 16th over, hitting three fours and a six off Hayley Matthews, while Wareham complemented her with crucial hits to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Gardner was eventually stumped by Amelia Kerr in the 18th over, falling just four runs short of a half-century. Undeterred, Wareham continued to attack, hitting a four and a six off Nat Sciver-Brunt, taking the total past 165 and setting a challenging target for the Mumbai Indians. GG’s ability to score 61 runs in the last five overs underlined their strength in finishing innings on a high note.

The final total of 167/4 could prove tough for MI, whose strong batting line-up will need to negotiate both the spin and pace options of GG. Key bowlers for Mumbai were Amelia Kerr (2-26) and Shabnim Ismail (1-29), while the GG top order demonstrated both resilience and aggression under pressure.

Brief Scores: Gujarat Giants 167/4 in 20 overs (Ashleigh Gardner 46, Georgia Wareham 44 not out; Amelia Kerr 2-26, Shabnim Ismail 1-29) vs Mumbai Indians.

This performance ensures Gujarat Giants enter the chase with a psychological edge, as their batting depth and finishing capability could prove decisive in the playoffs-bound contest.