Gujarat Giants Bharti Fulmali plays a shot during the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 cricket match between Gujarat Giants and Mumbai Indians, in Mumbai, Monday, March 10, 2025. Photo: PTI Gujarat Giants Bharti Fulmali plays a shot during the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 cricket match between Gujarat Giants and Mumbai Indians, in Mumbai, Monday, March 10, 2025. Photo: PTI

Bharti Fulmali's fireworks almost took Gujarat Giants to an astonishing victory before Mumbai Indians bowlers snatched it away to win by nine runs in the Women's Premier League 2025 match on Mondayp7mines.devluar, March 10.

Chasing 180, Gujarat Giants looked down and out when they lost six wickets for just 92 runs by the start of the 14th over. The required run rate had climbed over 12 and with just four wickets left, Mumbai Indians were looking set to earn a thumping victory in what was the first match of the season at their home.

However, Phulmali played one of the most memorable innings of the season as she slammed a 25-ball 61 to bring a dead game to life. A few shots by Simran Shaikh and Tanuja Kanwar in the end meant the equation was left at 13 needed to win for Gujarat Giants in final over. However, Hayley Matthews delivered a stunning final over to help Mumbai Indians eke out a nine-run victory.

Earlier, Gujarat Giants captain Ashleigh Gardner had won the toss and opted to field on a pitch that was expected to favour batters. Below are the Playing XIs of both the sides for the match.

Mumbai Indians Playing XI: Hayley Matthews, Yastika Bhatia(w), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Amelia Kerr,66br Sajeevan Sajana, G Kamalini, Amanjot Kaur, Sanskriti Gupta, Shabnim Ismail, Parunika Sisodia

Former national champion Ashutosh Singh has been named as new coach of the national team.

There is a 21-day window to appeal that started when the parties received the decision. Any appeal would be filed to the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Gujarat Giants Playing XI: Beth Mooney(w), Harleen Deol, Ashleigh Gardner(c), Dayalan Hemalatha, Deandra Dottin, Kashvee Gautam, Phoebe Litchfield, Bharti Fulmali, Tanuja Kanwar, Meghna Singh, Priya Mishra

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Despite a slow start, MI found momentum in the back end of the innings with Harmanpreet Kaur and Amanjot Kaur combining for a crucial partnership. MI captain Harmanpreet departed in the final over but before that she had raised a brisk half-century.

Thanks to Harmanpreet and some valuable contributions all around, MI set a 180-run target for Gujarat Giants.

The target seemed totally out of reach of the Giants before Fulmali played a ferocious knock. However, in the end MI had enough in the bank. Hayley Matthews picked up three wickets for MI and so did Amelia Kerr.

MI now need to win their final league stage game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru to directly qualify for the final by finishing at the top of the standings. p7mines.devluar