Harmanpreet Kaur, who is the captain of Mumbai Indians, scored 95 without any errors to lead her side to a spirited victory over Beth Mooney’s Gujarat Giants at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
MI’s win increased their lead to 10 points from their first seven games, which helped them become the first team to qualify for the playoffs.
Mooney won the toss for her and opted to bat first. Mumbai Indians’ early breakthrough was aided by Hayley Matthews, who cleaned up opener Laura Wolvaardt in the third over.
MOONEY, HEMALATHA ATTACK
However, a massive 121-run partnership between Mooney and Dayalan Hemalatha turned the game around. Sajeevan Sajana sent Mooney packing after both batters hit half-centuries.
Mooney’s unbeaten 85 against RCB was a stunning feat, with 66 runs off 35 deliveries and eight boundaries and three sixes.
Following Mooney’s dismissal, Gujarat Giants lost a bunch of wickets in a bunch. Saika Ishaque sent Phoebe Litchfield, before Pooja Vastrakar cleaned up Ashleigh Gardner to reduce GG to 159 for 4.
Despite losing wickets on the other end, Hemalatha continued her onslaught. In the 17th over, pacer Shabnim Ismail ended her innings.
Ismail dismissed Hemalatha after scoring 74 runs off 40 balls, while smashing nine boundaries and two sixes. This was Hemalatha’s first-ever half-century in the WPL.
Gujarat scored 190 for 7 in their first innings after Bharti Fulmali hit a late flourish with a 13-ball 21.
Ishaque was the best bowler among the Mumbai Indians bowlers, taking two wickets while conceding 31 runs in four overs. It’s worth noting that Harmanpreet Kaur employed eight bowlers in the match against Gujarat Giants.
YASTIKA GETS MI OFF TO GOOD START
Yastika Bhatia and Mathews got Mumbai Indians off to a steady start in their 191-run chase. Mathews was sent back to the pavilion after Tanuja Kanwar’s sixth over, causing the two openers to form a 50-run stand.
The Gujarat Giants’ second breakthrough came from Shabman MD, who dismissed the dangerous Natalie Sciver-Brunt for only two runs. Despite wickets falling quickly around her, Yastika kept the scoreboard ticking.
Yastika’s pressure finally gave way, as she fell just a run short of her half-century and was taken down by Gardner. Out of 36 deliveries, she scored 49 runs while hitting eight boundaries and a solitary maximum.
HARMANPREET DOMINATES
Harmanpreet then took on Gujarat, completing her second half-century of the season with 33 deliveries. She kept the pace up, forming a crucial partnership with all-around player Amelia Kerr.
GG’s batting was a Mooney and Hemalatha show as the duo tore into MI’s bowling with consummate ease. Saika Ishaque was welcomed with an 11-run over while Nat Sciver-Brunt was greeted with a straight six by Mooney in a 13-run over. Pooja Vastrakar’s opening over had a boundary from both batters, while Amanjot Kaur and Amelia Kerr bled 10 and 15 runs respectively in their first overs.
While Mooney showed her range against spin, Hemalatha was particularly impressive in front of square. In the 13th over, when Nat Sciver-Brunt bowled, Hemalatha’s power and timing were on full display when she casually flicked a low full toss on the leg stump into the stands. GG raised their 100 in 9.5 overs but their last four overs produced only 30 runs at the cost of three wickets. Overall, MI took seven wickets in the last seven overs, giving away just 51 runs.
