It’s a Trial by Error for Giants as Promising Season Ends in Eliminator
In the WPL 2025 Eliminator on Thursday, the Gujarat Giants (GG) had a difficult evening.
They made many mistakes in fielding and running between the wickets, which cost them the match against Mumbai Indians (MI). Mumbai triumphed by 47 runs because of their outstanding performance. Follow billy777 for more cricket news.
A Major Setback Before the Game
Gujarat Giants’ star all-round player Deandra Dottin suffered an injury just five minutes before the toss.
During the warm-up, she bowled and injured her knee tendon. Despite the team’s best efforts, she was in too much discomfort to return to the field. She had to quit the match, which was a big loss for the squad.
Coach Michael Klinger said they attempted to see if she could at least play as a batter, but since they would have been one bowler short, they chose to replace her with Danny Gibson.
He applauded Gibson for playing well but admitted that losing Dottin at the last minute was tough for the squad.
Did the Giants Make the Right Decision Even Though They Won the Toss?
After winning the toss, the Giants chose to bowl first in the hopes that the dew would aid them in their subsequent batting.
Given that Mumbai only managed 37 runs for one wicket in the first six overs (Powerplay), it first appeared to be a wise choice.
However, things changed soon. Nat Sciver-Brunt and Hayley Matthews built a tremendous 133-run partnership in just 77 balls.
Due to numerous misfields and four lost catches by the Giants’ fielders, Mumbai amassed a massive 213 runs.
Coach Klinger later admitted that they might have misread the pitch and that their decision to bowl first did not work as expected.
Brilliant Fielding by the Mumbai Indians
The Mumbai Indians were fantastic. Hayley Matthews executed a brilliant dive to dismiss Beth Mooney in the opening over.
Following that, Mumbai’s fielders took advantage of every opportunity to make three perfect run-outs.
In contrast, the Gujarat Giants struggled with their fielding. Their subpar fielding probably made a 40-run difference in the game, according to Coach Klinger, and could have altered the outcome.
Run-Outs Make It Worse for Giants
After Mooney got out early, Harleen Deol got run out due to a mix-up. Then, when attempting to take an extra run, Danny Gibson was also run out. Later, when Kashvee Gautam attempted to tackle Harmanpreet Kaur’s strong throw, she was dismissed.
Coach Klinger acknowledged that it was quite challenging for them because there were so many run-outs in a major chase.
What Could Have Been Different?
If the Giants had:
✅ Taken their catches
✅ Fielded better
✅ Avoided unneeded run-outs
✅ Had a completely fit Deandra Dottin on the team
Then, the result could have been different. But cricket is a game of learning from mistakes, and the Giants will undoubtedly come back stronger next season!
