Gujarat Giants (GG) edged Mumbai Indians (MI) by 11 runs in the 19th match of the Women’s Premier League 2026 at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. After choosing to bat first, Gujarat Giants posted 167/4 on the scoreboard, thanks to blazing knocks from Georgia Wareham and Ashleigh Gardner. Anushka Brijmohan Sharma also made a useful contribution. Amelia Kerr (2/26 in four overs) was the most successful bowler for Mumbai Indians.
While chasing the target, Mumbai Indians lost early wickets and struggled at 37/3 in the seventh over. Harmanpreet Kaur then formed important partnerships with Amelia Kerr and Amanjot Kaur to keep Mumbai Indians in the chase.
The victory did not come without tension. MI captain Harmanpreet Kaur nearly repeated her heroics from 2024, when a playoff spot was on the line. With MI needing 58 runs from the final 24 balls, she launched a fierce counterattack.
Harmanpreet smashed three fours and three sixes, including two towering shots off Ashleigh Gardner in the final over, reducing the equation to just 14 runs from three balls. However, Gardner stayed calm under pressure and finished the over strongly to seal a historic win for Gujarat Giants over the two-time champions.
Gardner, Wareham lift GG to competitive total
Earlier, Gardner had already played a crucial role with the bat. She scored a vital 46 from 28 balls and shared a 71-run partnership off 43 deliveries with Georgia Wareham. That stand transformed GG’s innings and lifted them to 167, a total that had looked out of reach for much of the game.
Despite the loss, MI still have a chance to qualify. They now need UP Warriorz to beat Delhi Capitals in the final league match, with net run rate likely to decide the final spot.
MI dominate early as GG struggle for momentum
GG’s decision to bat first came with risk, especially after Beth Mooney was dismissed early. Sophie Devine and Anushka Sharma provided stability but struggled to accelerate. The only real boost in the powerplay came in the final over, when they took 12 runs off Vaishnavi Sharma.
MI kept things tight despite not taking wickets regularly. GG managed double-digit scores in only two of the first 11 overs. When Devine and Anushka were dismissed in back-to-back overs, GG were forced into a rebuild with less than half of their innings remaining.
Late surge changes the course of the innings
Gardner and Wareham steadily began to shift the momentum. They found at least one boundary in each of the first three overs of their partnership. The turning point came in the 15th over when Wareham charged down the pitch and smashed Amelia Kerr over the sightscreen.
Gardner then went on the attack, hitting Hayley Matthews for 6, 4, 4, and 4 in the 16th over. The pair continued the assault in the 17th over, collecting four boundaries between them off Shabnim Ismail. Although Gardner was later stumped off Kerr, Wareham kept the runs flowing and finished unbeaten on 44 from 26 balls.
GG added 61 runs in the final five overs, giving their bowlers a total to defend.
MI lose early wickets but Harmanpreet fights back
MI’s chase started poorly. Sophie Devine struck in each of her first two overs, while Kashvee Gautam picked up a wicket in between, leaving MI three down within the first seven overs.
Harmanpreet and Amelia Kerr then steadied the innings, repeatedly using the cut shot to find the gap between backward point and short third. They added 45 runs from 30 balls for the fourth wicket. However, when Wareham had Kerr caught behind, the required rate climbed sharply.
GG hold nerve in final overs
With GG relying heavily on spin, Harmanpreet targeted the shorter leg-side boundary, which measured 51 metres compared to 59 metres on the off side. She attacked Rajeshwari Gayakwad, hitting two sixes and a four across two overs.
GG responded at key moments. Gayakwad had Amanjot Kaur stumped, and Wareham dismissed Sanskriti Gupta for a first-ball duck. Although Harmanpreet finished the match wearing the Orange Cap, it was GG who celebrated progression to the next round.
Brief Scorecard
