Vadodara’s BCA Stadium witnessed a batting masterclass from Gujarat Giants in WPL 2026’s 19th fixture. Batting first after winning the toss, the Giants racked up 167 for 4 in their 20 overs, powered by a sensational 71-run blitz from skipper Ashley Gardner and Georgia Wareham. Mumbai Indians now face the daunting task of chasing 168 to stay in the playoff hunt.
The innings kicked off steadily with Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine laying a 21-run platform before Mooney’s early exit for 5. Anushka Sharma then took charge, scoring a brisk 33 with four fours and a six alongside Devine’s 25, which included three boundaries.
Post the 10-over mark, Gardner arrived and transformed the game. Her 46 off 28 balls was a boundary bonanza—seven fours and a towering six—while Wareham’s unbeaten 44 off 26 deliveries featured aggressive strokeplay with four boundaries and two maximums. Their 43-ball stand rescued and accelerated the innings brilliantly.
Amelia Kerr shone for MI with figures of 2 for 26, as Shabnim Ismail and Nat Sciver-Brunt chipped in with a wicket apiece. Harmanpreet Kaur leads a star-studded MI side including Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt, up against Gardner’s Giants featuring Anushka Sharma, Kashvee Gautam, and Renuka Singh Thakur.
With both sides eyeing playoffs, MI’s chase promises fireworks. Giants’ total looks formidable on a batting-friendly pitch, but MI’s firepower could turn the tide. Stay tuned for what could be a thriller.
