MI vs GG, WPL Highlights: Gujarat Giants edge past Mumbai Indians in nail-biting clash

Renuka Singh Thakur to Sajana Sajeevan, Rapped on the pads! Doing too much? Looks like it. Shaping back in, on a good length. Sajeevan plays all around it and is hit on the front pad. Gujarat do not think about the review.

We are back for the chase! The players are already out in the middle now. Sajana Sajeevan and Hayley Matthews are the two openers for Mumbai Indians. Renuka Singh Thakur to start proceedings with the ball for the Giants. Also, Beth Mooney, the keeper, is up to the stumps. Here we go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Missed chances but MI still well placed - Mumbai Indians were a touch sloppy in the field, otherwise they could have kept GG to a much lower total. Shabnim Ismail once again set the tone with an early wicket, while Kerr and Sciver-Brunt struck crucial blows through the middle overs. Amanjot Kaur was economical, but Vaishnavi went for a few, and the struggles at the death ended up hurting them. Matthews had a rare off day, though she did finish well by conceding just seven in the final over, which could prove pivotal. MI carries an 8-0 record against GG, and their batters will back themselves to make it 9-0 and qualify for the playoffs. Join us in a bit for the second essay.

A quick word - Shabnim Ismail says the wicket is better than she initially thought. She feels line and length are key on this surface, as any miss is likely to be punished. Ismail adds that she backs the batters to chase down this target. She also points out that Georgia Wareham's use of the crease laterally made a big difference and made her harder to bowl to. Ismail believes it is a decent score and shares that the plan was to restrict them to 170. Adds that they had a meeting and decided on a good mix of pace and spin to control the innings.

Aussies to the rescue for GG - Gujarat Giants suffered an early blow with Beth Mooney departing cheaply, but Anushka Sharma and Sophie Devine steadied the ship with a solid 48-run stand. Just when things were starting to look comfortable, both fell in quick succession, leaving GG on the back foot at 71/3. They needed a rescue act, and two Aussies answered the call. Skipper Ashleigh Gardner and Georgia Wareham took their time at first, but went berserk in the final five overs, a surge sparked by a 19-run Matthews over that flipped the momentum. Their 71-run partnership has dragged GG to a total that gives their bowlers something to fight with.

Late surge keeps Giants in the fight - A fine contest between bat and ball as both sides walk off feeling they left a little out there. Gujarat Giants looked under pressure through the middle overs, but they found a timely surge when it mattered most, smashing 61 runs in the final five to lift themselves to a competitive total. MI, though, will not be too disappointed either, knowing they have the depth and quality in their batting to hunt this down.

Hayley Matthews to Georgia Wareham, A couple of runs to end the innings! A bit short, on middle, Georgia hops back to force it down the ground with a horizontal bat. Skies it in the vacant mid on region. By the time Shabnim Ismail can run in off the ropes and release the throw, the batters complete the second run. Gujarat Giants end up with 167 on the board.

Hayley Matthews to Georgia Wareham, This is even slower, short and on leg. Wareham switches her stance and plays the reverse behind point for a brace.

Hayley Matthews to Bharti Fulmali, So far, so good from Matthews! She drags the length back and does not offer any pace at all. Fulmali slaps it down to long on for only a run.

Hayley Matthews to Georgia Wareham, Tossed up, on middle, Wareham advances and chips it down to long on for one.

Hayley Matthews to Georgia Wareham, On the shorter side, around leg, Wareham makes room and swings across for the pull but it sneaks under her blade. Rahila Firdous does well to get low and gather the ball.

Hayley Matthews to Bharti Fulmali, From around the wicket, flighted delivery, following the batter, Bharti backs away and has a big swing through the line. Gets it off the inner half to deep backward square leg for a single.

Last over coming up now. Hayley Matthews will bowl it. A big call from Harmanpreet Kaur as she had the option of Amanjot Kaur as well. Can Gujarat Giants go past 170 here?

Nat Sciver-Brunt to Georgia Wareham, FOUR! Width offered and Wareham cashes in! On a short of a length, outside off, Georgia extends her hands and slams it over the leaping point fielder for a boundary. 14 runs off the 19th over.

Nat Sciver-Brunt to Georgia Wareham, Pushes the length up, outside off, Wareham swings hard and slices it over cover for a couple of runs.

Nat Sciver-Brunt to Georgia Wareham, SIX! Dispatched! A bit too short from Sciver-Brunt, outside off. Wareham knows that square leg is inside the circle. She walks across the stumps and waits for the slower ball to arrive. Pulls it over square leg for a six. The 150 is up for the Giants.

Nat Sciver-Brunt to Bharti Fulmali, Near the tramline on off, on a length, Bharti reaches out and smashes it to deep cover for one.

Nat Sciver-Brunt to Bharti Fulmali, On top of off, Bharti punches it to cover.

Nat Sciver-Brunt to Georgia Wareham, On a back of a length, on off, Wareham forces it straight to cover and they sneak in a quick single.

Nat Sciver-Brunt (3-0-22-1) to bowl the penultimate over.

Amelia Kerr to Georgia Wareham, Short and on off, Georgia pulls it in front of square and keeps the strike with a single.

Amelia Kerr to Bharti Fulmali, Miscued but safe! Looped up, outside off, Bharti swings for the hills. The ball turns away to catch the outer half. It balloons to short third, where Poonam Khemnar misjudges the flight of the ball. She back pedals before realising that she needs to come forward. It is late by then and the ball drops in front of her. They cross.

Amelia Kerr to Georgia Wareham, Drops it short, on middle. Georgia pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Amelia Kerr to Bharti Fulmali, Googly, short and on middle. The ball stays a bit low, Bharti nudges it through mid-wicket and turrns the strike over.

A bit of relief for Mumbai Indians. Bharti Fulmali walks out to bat now.

Amelia Kerr to Ashleigh Gardner, OUT! STUMPED! Amelia Kerr delivers a timely breakthrough for MI. Drifting in, on middle, on a length, Gardner shimmies down the pitch and has a hack against the turn. The ball turns past her bat and the keeper, Rahila Firdous is quick to whip the bails off. The 43-ball 71-run stand is broken. 46 (28) for the Gujarat skipper.

Amelia Kerr to Ashleigh Gardner, Missed out! A bit too short, turning away, Gardner rocks back and slaps it hard but can't beat Harmanpreet Kaur at extra cover.

Shabnim Ismail to Georgia Wareham, A big swing and a miss! Full and angled in, on leg. Wareham clears the front leg and has a heave across the line but is beaten on the inside edge. 36 runs off the last 2 overs.

Shabnim Ismail to Georgia Wareham, FOUR! Clever, very clever! Ismail bangs it in short, over middle and leg. Georgia moves away from the stumps and uses the pace of the ball. She opens the bat face and glides it between short third and backward point for four more. 17 runs off the over with a ball to go.

Shabnim Ismail to Georgia Wareham, FOUR! Up and over! Ismail serves it on a length, on off, Wareham backs away and she knows that mid off is inside the circle. She pumps it over the mid off fielder and picks up a boundary.

Shabnim Ismail to Ashleigh Gardner, Tucking the batter up for room, on a short of a length. Gardner shovels it behind square leg for a run.

Shabnim Ismail to Ashleigh Gardner, FOUR! The boundaries keep flowing! On a back of a length, on off. Gardner flashes hard at the ball. Gets more of an outside edge and it beats the diving short third fielder to her right for a four.

Shabnim Ismail to Ashleigh Gardner, FOUR! Shabnim Ismail is welcomed back with a boundary! Ismail starts with a full ball, outside off, Gardner comes down the track and gives herself a bit of room. She crunches it towards extra cover, where Hayley Matthews gets a hand on it but it is not enough. It races away for a boundary.

Hayley Matthews to Ashleigh Gardner, 19 runs off the over! The best over of the innings from Gujarat's perspective. Shorter and slower, on middle. Gardner plays it with soft hands in the vacant mid-wicket region. They think about the second run but decide against it eventually.

Hayley Matthews to Ashleigh Gardner, Pushed through, across off, Gardner chops it down from the crease to cover.

Hayley Matthews to Ashleigh Gardner, FOUR! Asking to be hit, and Gardner obliges. 18 runs off the over so far. A half-tracker from Matthews, on middle and leg. Ashleigh goes deep in the crease and pulls it through square leg for four more.

Hayley Matthews to Ashleigh Gardner, FOUR! Ashleigh Gardner is on the charge! A bit too full from Matthews, on off and middle. Ashleigh clears the front leg and mows it wide of long on for another boundary.

Hayley Matthews to Ashleigh Gardner, FOUR! Easy pickings! Matthews switches to around the wicket, on a nagging length, turning down leg. Gardner crouches and sweeps it square of the short fine leg fielder for a four.

Hayley Matthews to Ashleigh Gardner, SIX! That sounded so sweet! Floated up, on off. Gardner takes the wise option of hitting with the spin. She reaches out in front and clubs it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Amelia Kerr to Georgia Wareham, Pushed through quicker, a leg-break, short and on off, turns away. Georgia Wareham tries to cut but ends up choppin it into the pitch.

Amelia Kerr to Georgia Wareham, SIX! Clean strike! Amelia Kerr tosses it up, full and on middle. Georgia Wareham skips down the track to get to the pitch of it and dispatches it over the bowler's head for a biggie.

Amelia Kerr to Ashleigh Gardner, Another short delivery, on middle, Ashleigh Gardner pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one. 100 UP FOR GG!

Amelia Kerr to Georgia Wareham, Excellent fielding! Dragged back and outside off, Georgia Wareham moves back and cuts it away hard and wide of point. Hayley Matthews dives to her left and gets a good hand to take the sting out of the ball. She certainly saves a boundary there. The batters cross.

Amelia Kerr to Ashleigh Gardner, Short again, on middle and leg, Ashleigh Gardner flicks it off her hips to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Amelia Kerr to Ashleigh Gardner, Floated, short and around off, turns away, Ashleigh Gardner stabs it out to short cover.

STRATEGIC BREAK! Mumbai Indians have controlled the middle phase of the game well so far. What has come as a surprise is how sharply the ball has turned. With six overs left, it would not be surprising if most of those are from the spinnners given the assistance on offer. Just 49 runs have come from the 8 overs after the Powerplay. When this pair of Ashleigh Gardner and Georgia Wareham put their feet down will be interesting to see.

Hayley Matthews to Ashleigh Gardner, Shortish and on middle, Ashleigh Gardner punches it to long on for one.

Hayley Matthews to Ashleigh Gardner, A shout for LBW, but turned down! Harmanpreet Kaur has a chat with her keeper and bowler before taking the review with a couple of seconds left on the timer. Hayley Matthews floats it up, shortish and around off, turns in a long way. Ashleigh Gardner goes back to pull it away but gets beaten by the spin and it hits her pads. UltraEdge confirms no bat involved and Ball Tracking shows two red, but wickets on umpire's call with the ball just clipping the leg stump. It was a lot closer than it looked at first, but MI keep thier review.

Hayley Matthews to Ashleigh Gardner, Slows it up, full and on middle, turns in, Ashleigh Gardner gets forward again to hoick it across the line but gets it from the inner half of the bat towards mid-wicket. There is certainly something for the spinners on this wicket.