Giants break MI jinx to qualify for Eliminator

Harmanpreet Kaur's blazing 48-ball 82* went in vain as Gujarat Giants clinched an 11-run win at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi on Friday. This was their first-ever victory in nine Women's Premier League encounters against Mumbai Indians, securing a place in the Eliminator of WPL 2026.

With a victory assuring a place in the next round for both teams, Giants opted to bat first. A testing spell from Shabnim Ismail and Nat Sciver-Brunt kept them in check early. Beth Mooney departed cheaply, but extras ensured Mumbai didn't entirely seize the momentum. Sophie Devine and Anushka Sharma attacked the young Vaishnavi Sharma in the powerplay.

Giants brought up their half-century in the seventh over but couldn't accelerate significantly until the backend. The innings had a bit of push and pull until the 88th delivery when they reached 100. However, with Ash Gardner and Georgia Wareham settled, they pressed the accelerator. Three boundaries and two sixes came off the next six deliveries, with heavy traffic from mid-wicket to fine leg.

The duo didn't hold back even against Ismail in her last over, carting her for two boundaries each. Nonetheless, Mumbai managed to pull back momentum in the death overs and restrict Giants to 167 for 4.

Giants' new-ball attack of Renuka Thakur and Kashvee Gautam probed Mumbai's openers early, not allowing them to break free. Sophie Devine added to their woes, dismissing the dangerous Hayley Matthews and Sciver-Brunt in successive overs to leave the defending champions reeling at 37 for 3 in the seventh over.

With the new ball's effect wearing off, the onus was on Harmanpreet and Amelia Kerr to rebuild. Harmanpreet comfortably rocked back and cut a flurry of fours off the spinners. Kerr struggled for similar momentum and was eventually caught behind off a legbreak from Wareham.

With MI's lower-order untested this season, Harmanpreet and Amanjot Kaur were tasked with scripting the chase. They measured their attack, and even as boundaries came, the scoring rate was controlled by Giants.

With 58 needed off the last four overs, the MI skipper broke free. She carted Rajeshwari Gayakwad for a boundary and a six to raise her half-century. Amanjot attempted to continue but was stumped soon after. Wareham then trapped Sanskriti Gupta legbefore, reducing MI to 127 for 6 in the 18th over.

Devine bowled the penultimate over and, despite conceding two boundaries, squeezed MI into needing 26 off the final over. Despite having Renuka and Kashvee available, Gardner opted to bowl the final over herself.

It was a risky proposition. Harmanpreet swung one six over the ropes but missed the second. The third was hoisted over the boundary again, bringing the equation down to 14 from 3. Harmanpreet swung again but could only take a single, ending MI's hopes. Gardner completed the formalities and sealed her team's passage to the next round.

Mumbai Indians will now await the result of the contest between Delhi Capitals and UP Warriorz on Sunday. If Capitals win, it will be the first time the Harmanpreet-led side is knocked out in the group stage. If Warriorz win, MI will have a chance to go through on superior Net Run Rate.

Brief Scores:
Gujarat Giants 167/4 in 20 overs (Ash Gardner 46, Georgia Wareham 44*; Amelia Kerr 2-26, Shabnim Ismail 1-29) beat Mumbai Indians 156/7 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 82*, S Sajana 26; Sophie Devine 2-23, Georgia Wareham 2-26) by 11 runs.