After Mumbai Indians advanced to their second WPL 2025 final with a 47-run victory over Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator, captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her satisfaction with her team’s performance in Thursday’s match at Brabourne Stadium.

On a new surface, Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt scored 77 each, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur hit an incredible 36. MI finished with a total of 213/4. Hayley shone in defence of the big total, taking 3-31 as GG were bowled out for 166 in 19.2 overs.

“Feeling wonderful, it was a great team effort, and I’m extremely thrilled with how we performed today. Before the game, I wanted to bat first. But then we decided to chase – whatever score is on the board, if you demonstrate trust, you can chase.”

“Whatever occurred, it was for the best, and Hayley and Nat did an excellent job putting everything up for us. They are superb players that understand how to play these kind of games. We do not need to instruct them what to do. I’m really pleased with how they accepted responsibility and batted for the team.”

“We bowled well today. All of the bowlers performed admirably, and this is what we hoped to accomplish. The next game is critical, and we need to sit down again and reflect on what went well for us,” Harmanpreet stated during the post-match presentation ceremony.

Hayley, who was named Player of the Match, said she was prepared to give her all with both bat and ball. “I think it was a great game. You received a lot of value for your shots as a hitter. Nat and I worked hard to relieve the load on ourselves. With the ball, I had my plans and attempted to carry them out as best I could.”

When asked about her plans for MI’s second WPL final, Hayley replied, “Come back, do our homework on DC – they are a fantastic team and have gotten the better of us in the last two games. Come back, finish your studies, and then perform on the field.”

Nat, who is now the tournament’s leading run-getter, believes adhering to her abilities has been the key to her success with the bat. “I’m not sure what I did differently, to be honest. We have played a lot of cricket up until now (aside from this competition). Wickets are good, outfields are speedy, which helps the batters, I guess.

She also praised head coach Charlotte Edwards’ assistance. “She has got great experience obviously, but the best thing is that she tries to make everyone feel comfortable – that has contributed to a great vibe around the group.”

Even though the Gujarat Giants lost and were eliminated from the final, skipper Ashleigh Gardner chose to focus on the season’s positives. “This group has a lot to be proud of – so many wonderful tales, and various people have spoken up at different periods. It’s been an absolute pleasure to lead this side. Young players placing their names in lights is what events like these are all about.

She concluded by thanking fans for their support of the squad in WPL 2025. “Hopefully, we’re moving in the right path. It was great to gain some wins and play in front of our home crowd, who has supported us all season. Hopefully, we can build on it. It’s been incredible to be a part of this franchise for three years and witness its exponential growth.”

Brief scores:

Mumbai Indians 213/4 in 20 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 77, Hayley Matthews 77; Danielle Gibson 2-40, Kashvee Gautam 1-30) beat Gujarat Giants 166 in 19.2 overs (Danielle Gibson 34, Phoebe Litchfield 31; Hayley Matthews 3-31, Amelia Kerr 2-28) by 47 runs(Agency)