The high-stakes drama of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 reached a fever pitch on January 30 as Gujarat Giants (GG) squared off against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 19th match of the season. Held at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, this penultimate league clash was nothing short of a quarter-final for both sides. With a playoff spot on the line, the atmosphere was electric, but it was a moment of sheer fielding magic that stole the headlines early in the evening.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Giants hoped for a steady start from their experienced opening pair. However, the legendary Shabnim Ismail and the acrobatic Sajeevan Sajana had other plans, combining to produce one of the most stunning dismissals of the season.
Sajeevan Sajana plucks a screamer to remove Beth Mooney in WPL 2026
The breakthrough arrived in the third over (2.2) and immediately turned the tide. Ismail, steaming in with her trademark intensity, delivered a shortish ball on the leg stump that seemed to “stop” in the surface. Beth Mooney, looking to flick the ball away, was deceived by the lack of pace and the slight hold in the pitch. She fended at the delivery uppishly, sending a looping chance toward the mid-wicket region.
Just as it appeared the ball might land safely in the gap, Sajana displayed elite reflexes. Moving sharply to her left, she launched into a full-length, desperate lunge. With gravity-defying timing, Sajana gobbled up the ball inches from the grass, completing a jaw-dropping grab that left the Vadodara crowd in awe. This crucial scalp sent Mooney back to the dugout for just 5 runs, continuing a difficult tournament for the GG skipper and leaving the Giants reeling at 21/1.
Here’s the video:
That’s an excellent catch! 🫴
Sajeevan Sajana with an acrobatic effort to give #MI the breakthrough 👏
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/0ABkT4LpSk #TATAWPL | #KhelEmotionKa | #GGvMI | @mipaltan pic.twitter.com/FlfMuIju1U
— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) January 30, 2026
Also READ: Gujarat Giants shatters 40-match WPL streak in Mumbai Indians clash in Vadodara
Gujarat Giants navigate the middle-overs in high-pressure “Do-or-Die” battle
Despite the early blow, Giants refused to crumble. Sophie Devine and Anushka Sharma embarked on a tactical rebuilding mission, steering the team to a respectable 48/1 by the end of the Powerplay. The game saw its fair share of DRS tension, notably in the 4th over when a review by the Giants upheld a “not out” decision for Anushka, keeping the momentum alive.
The pair added nearly 50 runs for the second wicket, with Anushka finding her rhythm to strike a six off Amelia Kerr. However, the Mumbai Indians’ spin-twins struck back just as the Giants looked to accelerate. The match flow shifted rapidly when Anushka (33 off 31) was dismissed by Kerr in the 10th over, caught at long-on. Devine (25 off 21) followed shortly after, falling to Nat Sciver-Brunt.
By the second Strategic Timeout at the 14-over mark, the Giants were 97/3. Ashleigh Gardner (16*) and Georgia Wareham (9*) were left with the task of navigating the final overs on a surface that has proven challenging for stroke-making. With a live forecast projecting a score of 151, the Giants are fighting tooth and nail to put up a competitive total and keep their playoff dreams from slipping away.
Also READ: RCB books WPL 2026 final spot: Playoffs qualification scenarios for DC, MI, GG and UPW
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
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