Gujarat Giants Beat Mumbai Indians by 11 Runs to Qualify for WPL 2026 Eliminator

Vadodara, Jan 2026: In a thrilling contest at the BCA Stadium, Gujarat Giants secured an 11-run victory over Mumbai Indians in the 19th match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, booking their place in the Eliminator on February 3. Winning the toss, Gujarat Giants elected to bat first and posted a competitive 167/4 in 20 overs, setting a challenging target for Mumbai Indians.

The innings began with an opening stand between Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine, who put on 21 runs for the first wicket. Mooney was dismissed early for 5 runs, but Devine and Anushka Sharma steadied the innings with a 48-run partnership, helping the Giants recover. Anushka scored 33 runs off 25 balls, including one six and four boundaries, while Devine contributed 25 runs off 21 deliveries.

The turning point came with the fourth-wicket partnership of 71 runs between captain Ashleigh Gardner and Georgia Wareham, taking Gujarat’s total to 142. Gardner scored a brilliant 46 off 28 balls with 8 boundaries before being stumped, while Wareham remained unbeaten on 44 runs off 26 balls, hitting two sixes and four boundaries. For Mumbai Indians, Amelia Kerr was the most successful bowler with 2 wickets, while Shabnim Ismail and Nat Sciver-Brunt took one each.

In reply, Mumbai Indians struggled to keep pace with the asking rate, managing 156/7 in 20 overs. Sajeevan Sajana and Hayley Matthews provided an initial 23-run partnership in 4.3 overs, but the team quickly lost momentum, dropping 3 wickets for 37 runs. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur then combined with Amelia Kerr for a 45-run fourth-wicket partnership, but Kerr fell for 20 off 16 balls.

Harmanpreet Kaur and Amanjot Kaur added another 44 runs for the fifth wicket, with Amanjot contributing 13 off 12 balls. Despite a fighting innings by Kaur, who remained unbeaten on 82 runs off 48 balls, including 4 sixes and 8 fours, Mumbai fell short. From Gujarat’s bowling lineup, Sophie Devine and Georgia Wareham picked up two wickets each, while Kashvee Gautam, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, and Ashleigh Gardner claimed one wicket apiece.

Gujarat Giants’ all-round performance with both bat and ball proved decisive, as their well-timed partnerships and disciplined bowling prevented Mumbai Indians from chasing the target. With this win, the Giants continue their strong run in the tournament, carrying momentum into the upcoming Eliminator.

Brief Scores:
Gujarat Giants: 167/4 in 20 overs (Ashleigh Gardner 46, Georgia Wareham 44*; Amelia Kerr 2-26, Shabnim Ismail 1-29)
Mumbai Indians: 156/7 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 82*, Amelia Kerr 20; Sophie Devine 2-25, Georgia Wareham 2-30)

This thrilling encounter highlighted Gujarat Giants’ batting depth and bowling balance, confirming their credentials as serious contenders in WPL 2026.