New Delhi: The Mumbai Indians (MI) emerged victorious in a high-scoring thriller after beating Gujarat Giants (GG) by 7 wickets in Match 16 of the TATA Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 on Saturday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Harmanpreet Kaur led from the front with a magnificent 95*(48) powered with 5 sixes to clinch a final over win as MI chased down 191 against Gujarat Giants.
Chasing a challenging target of 191, Mumbai Indians openers – Yastika Bhatia and Hayley Matthews provided the perfect start. With boundaries flowing effortlessly from both ends, the fifty partnership was up for the opening wicket in no time and MI reached 50/0 at the end of powerplay.
Tanuja Kanwer provided the opening wicket for GG after Matthews was caught by Sneh Rana. Once again, it was Rana with the catch, which brought an end to Nat Sciver-Brunt’s short stay at the crease.
MI needed 115 off the final 10 with Captain Harmanpreet Kaur & well-set Yastika in the middle. Ashleigh Gardner dismissed Yastika for 49 courtesy of a fine catch off her own bowling.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur reached her second fifty off the season after getting a reprieve off Sneh Rana’s bowling.
The MI captain along with Amelia Kerr smacked 18 runs off the 17th over which brought the equation down to 47 off 18. Next over turned out to be even better for MI as Harmanpreet clubbed three sixes and 2 fours.
With 13 required off the final over, the MI captain finished the job in style after smacking a gigantic maximum followed by a four against Gardner and remained unbeaten on 95*.
Earlier, Gujarat Giants, who opted to bat first made two changes while the Mumbai Indians remained unchanged.
GG opener Laura Wolvaardt started positively and creamed three fours early on. But MI’s decision of introducing spin early paid off as Hayley Matthews dismissed Wolvaardt for 13.
The pressure of early wicket didn’t affect GG as Captain Beth Mooney and Dayalan Hemalatha helped GG move to 52/1 at the end of powerplay.
The fifty partnership was up for the second wicket in the 8th over as the boundaries continued to flow off the bat for GG. The confidence grew further for Hemalatha, who smacked two fours and a maximum against Amelia Kerr.
Both - Mooney & Hemalatha reached their half-centuries and then switched gears. While the GG skipper executed two scoops to perfection for dual maximums, Hemalatha was dealing in boundaries with her powerful bottom hand.
In came S Sajana, who provided the much-needed breakthrough for MI on her very first ball with Mooney’s wicket. The breakthrough sparked momentum for MI as GG lost Phoebe Litchfield and Ashleigh Gardner in quick succession.
Dayalan’s entertaining 74-run knock then came to an end off Saika Ishaque’s bowling. Bharati Fulmali’s 21-run cameo helped GG reach 190/7.