Matthews, Sciver-Brunt Extend Mumbai’s Winning Run Against Gujarat Giants in WPL 2025
In a thrilling encounter during the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025, the Mumbai Indians (MI) extended their winning streak with a commanding performance against the Gujarat Giants. Powered by an all-round show from Hayley Matthews and Natalie Sciver-Brunt, Mumbai successfully chased down the target set by the Gujarat Giants, maintaining their strong form in the competition. The match, played in front of a passionate crowd, was a spectacle of top-notch cricket, as MI displayed skill, temperament, and depth in both their batting and bowling departments. The Gujarat Giants fought hard, but Mumbai’s dominance proved to be too much on the day.
The Build-Up to the Match
Mumbai Indians, the reigning champions, had entered the 2025 season with high expectations. Their strong squad, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, boasted the presence of several international stars, including Hayley Matthews, Natalie Sciver-Brunt, and Pooja Vastrakar, giving them the firepower to challenge any team in the competition. Coming off a couple of dominant victories, MI was riding high on confidence and hoped to continue their momentum in this important clash.
The Gujarat Giants, on the other hand, had been inconsistent in the early part of the season. While they had flashes of brilliance, their lack of consistency in both batting and bowling had cost them in the previous games. Coach Michael Klinger had spoken about the need for partnerships and improvements in key areas to stand a chance against a team like Mumbai. The Giants knew they had to bring their best performance to the field if they were to pose a serious challenge to the Mumbai Indians.
Mumbai’s Bowling Restricts Gujarat Giants
The Gujarat Giants won the toss and decided to bat first, hoping to set a competitive total on the board. However, their innings never really gained the momentum they needed. The Mumbai Indians’ bowlers, led by Pooja Vastrakar, Saika Ishaque, and Hayley Matthews, delivered a masterclass in T20 bowling.
Saika Ishaque, in particular, was brilliant with the ball, using her variations in flight and pace to trouble the Gujarat batters. She removed the dangerous Deandra Dottin early in the innings, which gave Mumbai an early advantage. Ishaque’s controlled spell in the middle overs stifled the Gujarat Giants’ chase, keeping them to a modest total. Meanwhile, Pooja Vastrakar‘s accuracy and ability to bowl under pressure further compounded the Giants’ woes.
The key to MI’s bowling success was the disciplined and attacking lines they bowled, making it difficult for Gujarat to form any significant partnerships. Even though Sophia Dunkley played a determined knock, her efforts were overshadowed by the pressure exerted by MI’s bowlers. She was eventually dismissed by a well-directed bouncer from Hayley Matthews, who had a pivotal role to play throughout the match.
Despite a few contributions from the lower order, including a quick cameo by Sneh Rana, Gujarat could only muster 130 runs in their allotted 20 overs. The target was far from daunting, but with MI’s strong batting lineup, Gujarat needed something extraordinary to defend their total.
Mumbai’s Chase: Matthews and Sciver-Brunt Lead the Way
With the target set at 131 runs, Mumbai Indians were confident of completing the chase, but they knew they had to bat sensibly and not get complacent. The opening pair of Harmanpreet Kaur and Yastika Bhatia got off to a steady start, but the loss of early wickets did create a slight tremor in MI’s camp. Harmanpreet, known for her aggression, fell to a brilliant delivery from Sophie Ecclestone, leaving the team in a slightly vulnerable position at 30 for 1.
Enter Hayley Matthews and Natalie Sciver-Brunt, two experienced campaigners who had both made their mark in previous seasons. Matthews, who had been in stellar form throughout the tournament, walked in with confidence and immediately took charge. Her technique was flawless, and she attacked the Gujarat bowlers with a combination of elegant drives and powerful pulls. She found the boundary regularly, especially off the spinners, and looked set for a big innings.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt, one of the premier all-rounders in the world, joined her at the crease and showed her class with some exquisite shots. Both Matthews and Sciver-Brunt quickly found a rhythm, taking on the Gujarat bowlers with ease. While Matthews played the role of the aggressor, Sciver-Brunt’s composure and intelligent strokeplay provided the necessary stability.
One of the key aspects of their partnership was the ability to rotate the strike consistently. They kept the scoreboard ticking, and when the opportunity presented itself, both players were able to dispatch the bowlers to the boundary. The partnership between Matthews and Sciver-Brunt was not just about hitting boundaries but also about maintaining pressure on the Gujarat bowlers by constantly finding gaps in the field.
Matthews reached her half-century off just 35 balls, a knock that showcased her ability to accelerate the innings and take on the best of bowlers. At the other end, Sciver-Brunt remained solid, anchoring the innings and playing the supporting role perfectly.
Gujarat Giants’ bowlers tried to apply pressure with their field placements and variations, but they could not break the partnership. Amelia Kerr was introduced into the attack but had little impact, as both Matthews and Sciver-Brunt continued to pile on the runs. As the required runs continued to shrink, it became clear that Gujarat would struggle to defend such a total.
The Final Push and Victory
With just over 20 runs required and plenty of wickets in hand, MI was firmly in the driver’s seat. Matthews, having set the stage for a smooth finish, finally fell for a well-made 65 off 42 balls. However, by then, the damage had already been done, and Mumbai were just a few hits away from victory.
Sciver-Brunt, who had been calm and assured throughout, made sure MI did not falter. With the final overs in sight, she took charge of the chase, dispatching the ball to the fence when needed. She brought up the winning runs with a brilliant boundary off Sophie Ecclestone, ending her innings at an unbeaten 40 runs off 30 balls.
MI chased down the target with 4 wickets in hand and 3 overs to spare, extending their winning streak and solidifying their position as one of the favorites for the WPL 2025 title.
Post-Match Reactions and Analysis
After the game, Harmanpreet Kaur, the MI captain, expressed her delight with the team’s performance. “It was a clinical performance from us today. The bowlers set it up beautifully, and Hayley and Nat (Natalie) finished the job in style. It’s great to see everyone stepping up and playing their roles. We’ve got to continue this momentum going forward,” she said.
Coach Mark Boucher also praised the team’s depth and all-round performance. “Everyone knew their role today. The bowlers did exceptionally well to restrict Gujarat to 130, and then Hayley and Nat really carried us through the chase. That’s what you need in a successful team – contributions from all areas,” he stated.
For Michael Klinger, the Gujarat Giants’ coach, there were areas of disappointment. “We had chances but couldn’t capitalize on them. The bowlers did well initially, but we couldn’t build enough pressure. Credit to Mumbai – they played smart cricket, and their partnership was clinical,” he said, acknowledging the quality of the opposition.
Conclusion
In the end, it was another dominant display from the Mumbai Indians, who extended their winning run in the WPL 2025 with a well-rounded performance. The efforts of Hayley Matthews and Natalie Sciver-Brunt were instrumental in guiding Mumbai to their comfortable victory. Their ability to anchor the chase, while maintaining the necessary aggression, showcased the depth of MI’s batting lineup. With their bowling attack continuing to perform at a high level, Mumbai Indians remain a formidable force in the competition, and they will be looking to carry this momentum forward as the season progresses. For the Gujarat Giants, there are valuable lessons to learn from the defeat, and they will need to address their middle-order fragility in the coming games.
