END OF OVER:
20 | 3 Runs 3 Wkts | GG-W: 170/10 (10 runs required, RR: 8.50)

  • Meghna Singh1 (1b)
  • Hayley Matthews4-0-38-3
  • Nat Sciver-Brunt3-0-28-0

11:25pm And that is a wrap from tonight. But we will be back at it in less than 24 hours from now, with the Mumbai Indians trying to sew up a berth in the final against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, defending champions but out of contention already. Do join us for that game, and until then, this is goodbye from Ranjith, Sudeep and myself. Take care, folks!

Trinity: "And that will then mean WINS will read 6-5-4-3-2 while LOSSES will read 2-3-4-5-6" -- Seems like the NRR calculations has gotten everyone's mathematical juices flowing...

Harmanpreet Kaur, the Mumbai Indians captain is also the Player of the Match: We bowled well in patches, we should give credit to their batters as well. They kept the match on and we have to learn from our mistakes. At the end of the day, when you win, you are happy. We will re-think what went wrong and try to learn from our mistakes (in the next game). (On the score) I think we got a decent total on the board. We were in the game in the first ten overs, but then they batted really well. That is (the thing) about the CCI wicket, if you bat well, anything is chaseable. We should give credit to Bharti for the way she batted. Lots of learnings for us and we have to think what we can do well in the next game. (On how she chooses who will bowl) It is always about the match-ups and how things are going, and what your gut feeling is saying. I am really happy that we have so much experience in the bowling side. It was a good game for us to take a lot of learnings and next game, we will hopefully come up with greater positive mindset. Very happy when you get runs here, I was enjoying my batting and want to continue this rhythm. I just keep telling myself to utilize whatever ball is coming to its best, and I want to continue that. (On playing again tomorrow) Good we played today and we understood how the pitch and the conditions are. Recovery is something that is going to play a big role (because of the back-to-back matches).

SandyKam: "In likely scenario of MI beating RCB, teams will have 12, 10, 8, 6 and 4 points on the table." -- Looks like we have an arithmetic progression fan in the house...

Ashleigh Gardner, Gujarat Giants captain: (On if she was happy chasing 180) Yes and no. we knew it was a high-scoring venue, we probably let a few runs in the field. Could have realistically kept them to 160. That is how it goes, you don't save those runs in the field and make it harder. Tried to take the game on (knowing we had to chase inside 18 overs), fought till the end, unfortunately we were on the losing side. We had the safety blanket of knowing we would be in the playoffs. It was not to be tonight, but knowing that gave us a bit of breathing room. Plenty of positives to take from tonight, with bat and ball, and also some things to improve on. (On Kashvee Gautam opening) We think she is capable of doing that role. Her strength is to play down the ground and take the game on. The best teams take the powerplay on, score runs and put pressure on the opposition, and hopefully that gives confidence (to Kashvee) moving forward. We have seen what she (Bharti) is capable of doing. There was another game where she absolutely whacked it. She plays a bit of a different role in the middle order and it was awesome to see her almost taking us home. (On their 0-6 record against MI) We want to get to that final, hopefully if we come up against them again, we can change that tune.

Amelia Kerr, Purple Cap holder: (On opening the batting) It has been a little bit of a frustrating tournament with the bat. Nice to be up the order. Probably need to give myself a chance and value my wicket a little more. Plenty more cricket to come, hopefully I can get some runs when it counts. (On the chat after being asked to bat first) There was not much (of a chat). The great thing with our batting side is the depth. Amanjot has been outstanding and then Yastika at the end…at the 10-over mark, we would have liked more runs. We had our eyes on 170 and Yastika put the icing on the cake (towards the end). Bit closer than what we would have liked but happy to get the job done. There is one short side, fortunately I got a couple (of overs) with the long leg-side boundary. Batters also have to be smart, you can score both sides, and as a bowler, someone has to step up and do that job. Try to keep the stumps in play. There was some incredible ball-striking tonight and that is the biggest challenge in this competition, and how you take that away from the batters. She (Shabnim Ismail) is ridiculous, she is so good, easily the best pacer in the world. Nice for me that she has retired from international cricket (smiles). Bowls through the powerplay, very skilful, swings it and bowls at pace.

11pm Phew. That is perhaps the only expression that can sum up this game. The Giants seemed out of it, especially when Dottin fell and they were tottering at 92-6. But then, Fulmali took matters into her hands and she produced an unrivalled display of power-hitting - a display that made jaws drop and kept the Giants afloat. And just when it seemed Fulmali would have too much for Mumbai, the Kiwi magician aka Amelia Kerr, rocked up and pulled a rabbit out of the hat.

GG were not done, though. And they had another late burst and charge at the target, courtesy Kanwar and Simran, only to fall short at the final over. Matthews bowled that over and ensured MI got past the finish line, having been helped earlier in the evening by Kerr, who bagged three. Ismail was incredible too, bagging the crucial wickets of Gardner and Litchfield, and MI, given how they were pressed into action at different times, will be pleased with the eventual outcome.

19.6
W
Matthews to Priya Mishra, OUT, oh dear - what an end to a manic game of cricket! And it is the Mumbai Indians who triumph and their spotless streak against the Giants remains without a blemish, along with their invincible record at the Brabourne Stadium! This game has seen everything and it ends, rather fittingly, with a No.11 trying to reverse-scoop and then changing her stroke, ultimately finishing up as a left-handed batter trying to cut. Makes no contact at all and the keeper gathers and whips off the bals - with Mishra apparently outside her crease - to bring an end to one of the craziest WPL contests in recent times. Away from all the drama, though, the Giants, who have done exceedingly well to qualify, will have to do it the hard way to win the entire thing; MI, on the other hand, have their top-of-the-table hopes still in their hands!

Priya Mishra st †Bhatia b Matthews 1 (10m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 33.33

19.5
0
Matthews to Priya Mishra, no run, an enormous caught-behind appeal by Bhatia and Matthews, and Bhatia then takes off the bails to appeal for the stumping too, all while Matthews signals to her captain tor review - this is a frantic, frantic finish! Fired in on a length outside off. Mishra, rather ambitiously, looks for the reverse lap and seems to miss it completely. The ball may have brushed the pad, which might have caused the sound. UltraEdge indicates as much, and there is no bat involved. So Mishra will not be out caught-behind. And there is no merit in the stumping appeal either. Mishra survives, but GG can no longer win this game, unless there are extras!
19.4
1
Matthews to Meghna Singh, 1 run, in the air but it falls safe! Darted in on a length on the stumps. Meghna swings like a rusty gate and cloths it on the bounce to long on

Meghna up now. 11 needed still

19.3
1
Matthews to Priya Mishra, 1 run, floated up full outside off. Mishra reaches out for it and drags it towards deep mid wicket. There is confusion among the batters and eventually, they decide against the second. A real scramble

Mishra on strike

19.2
W
Matthews to Simran Shaikh, OUT, inside edge onto the stumps and Matthews has come up clutch like she has done so many times in her career before! Fizzed in on a back of a length on middle and off. Simran charges down the track and then swings for the hills. Loses her shape completely and the ball trickles off the bottom-edge into the stumps. A head-in-hands moment for Simran, who trudges off; Matthews, meanwhile, a picture of calmness!

Simran Shaikh b Matthews 18 (27m 16b 1x4 1x6) SR: 112.5

19.1
W
Matthews to Simran Shaikh, 1 run, OUT, a massive miscue, and Matthews puts it down, but MI get a run-out somehow - it is all happening at the Brabourne Stadium! Back of a length just outside off. Simran gives herself room and tries to tonk it into tomorrow. Only gets distance and Matthews tries to settle under it to the right of the stumps at the bowler's end. She makes a mess of the catch and does not even get her hands to it. GG sense this as a chance to sneak in a second but Matthews holds her nerve enough to relay the throw to the bowler's end. Amanjot does the rest, and Kanwar is caught short trying to smuggle a second!

TP Kanwar run out 10 (11m 6b 2x4 0x6) SR: 166.66

13 needed off the final over, which will be bowled by Matthews, who has given away 35 in her three previous overs tonight

END OF OVER:
19 | 10 Runs | GG-W: 167/7 (13 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 8.78, RRR: 13.00)

  • Tanuja Kanwar10 (6b)
  • Simran Shaikh17 (14b)
  • Nat Sciver-Brunt3-0-28-0
  • Hayley Matthews3-0-35-1
18.6
2
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Kanwar, 2 runs, you have got to be kidding me! Slower ball in the slot. Kanwar backs away and drills it to mid off. Ismail, for some reason, hurls it at the keeper's end, where there is no one to collect. GG get another run and that means Simran is back on strike too

Keeper goes back

18.6
1w
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Kanwar, 1 wide, oh dear! Slides this down leg and Kanwar, having moved across to lap it, misses. Called a wide and no real complains from MI

16 off 7. GG will love a boundary here

18.5
1
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Simran Shaikh, 1 run, straight back at NSB, who cannot hold on! Cutter on a back of a length outside off. Simran slams it back at the bowler, who does well to get behind it. Will go down as a chance but a very tough one
18.4
4
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Simran Shaikh, FOUR, smashed to the fence! Another change-up but the length is the problem for NSB. Right in the slot and Simran bludgeons it past long on!

The Giants cannot finish at the top of the points table, by the way

18.3
1lb
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Kanwar, 1 leg bye, angled in on a length on leg stump. Kanwar swings at it and Kanwar misses. The ball hits her on the back leg and trickles away for a leg bye

Around the wicket

18.2
1
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Simran Shaikh, 1 run, back of a length delivery wide outside off. Simran wafts at it and clinks it off the toe-end towards short third
18.1
0
Nat Sciver-Brunt to Simran Shaikh, no run, back of a length outside off. Simran has an agricultural hack across the line and only connects with fresh air. Might have been a cutter

This is game-on. 23 off 12. Do GG have the advantage? Sciver-Brunt tasked with bowling the penultimate over

END OF OVER:
18 | 15 Runs | GG-W: 157/7 (23 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.72, RRR: 11.50)

  • Tanuja Kanwar8 (4b)
  • Simran Shaikh11 (10b)
  • Hayley Matthews3-0-35-1
  • Amelia Kerr4-0-34-3
17.6
4
Matthews to Kanwar, FOUR, Matthews goes for the short ball, and Kanwar has read it like the morning daily! Kanwar is so early into position and she boshes this behind square, beating deep square leg to her left!
17.5
0
Matthews to Kanwar, no run, this is much slower, on a full length outside leg. Kanwar looks to repeat the reverse hit over backward point but fails to make contact this time. Rapped on the leg
17.4
0
Matthews to Kanwar, no run, fizzed through on a length on middle and off. Kanwar swings wildly across the line and only swats away a few flies

Over the wicket now

17.3
4
Matthews to Kanwar, FOUR, oh, hello! Where have you been all along, Tanuja Kanwar!? Angled in on a length on middle and off. Kanwar brings out the reverse first up and nails it over backward point. Pressure, what pressure?!

Kanwar on strike

17.2
1
Matthews to Simran Shaikh, 1 run, into the track outside off. Sticks in the surface and Simran, swiping at it, toe-ends it on the bounce to long on
17.1
6
Matthews to Simran Shaikh, SIX, and Matthews comes in for some harsh treatment instantly! Tossed up into the slot outside off. Simran plants her front foot and launches it over long on!

Matthews returns

END OF OVER:
17 | 17 Runs 1 Wkt | GG-W: 142/7 (38 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.35, RRR: 12.66)

  • Simran Shaikh4 (8b)
  • Amelia Kerr4-0-34-3
  • Parunika Sisodia2-0-19-0
16.6
W
Kerr to Fulmali, OUT, oh my word - Amelia Kerr, you are an absolute genius! She has been smashed all around the park this over but right at the end, she holds her nerve and produces a moment of pure magic. Lobs it up outside off, enticing another big shot. Fulmali gives in to that temptation but does so without getting to the pitch of the ball. Skews it off the outer half of the bat and Kamalini makes no mistake at short third. Those in the GG dugout stand up and applaud - an extroardinary innings has come to an end, but from their POV, they are still far from the finish line!

BS Fulmali c Kamalini b Kerr 61 (27m 25b 8x4 4x6) SR: 244

16.5
4
Kerr to Fulmali, FOUR, two sixes followed by a four! Fuller, flatter and wider. Fulmali peels the outer cover off the ball and scythes it past backward point!
16.4
6
Kerr to Fulmali, SIX, Fulmali is playing the innings of her life! Googly on a length on middle and off. Fulmali picks it, bends her back knee and dumps it over the deep mid wicket fence!

GG Women 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st15BL MooneyKS Gautam
2nd25H DeolKS Gautam
3rd1A GardnerH Deol
4th13H DeolP Litchfield
5th16DJS DottinP Litchfield
6th22DJS DottinBS Fulmali
7th50BS FulmaliSimran Shaikh
8th26TP KanwarSimran Shaikh
9th0Meghna SinghSimran Shaikh
10th2Meghna SinghPriya Mishra