WPL 2024, Match 3 | How Significant was Harmanpreet Kaur's Contribution to Mumbai Indians' Success?

Harmanpreet Kaur has played a couple of match-winning knocks in the first two matches (Source: x.com)

Mumbai Indians have maintained their winning streak with two victories in two matches, showcasing their dominance once again. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has been instrumental in guiding her team to victory, leading from the front in this match after missing out in the previous game. Chasing a target of 127 runs, Mumbai got off to a flying start with 19 runs scored in the first two overs.

However, they lost their openers quickly, followed by Natalie Sciver-Brunt, who fell while attempting aggressive shots. The momentum shifted with a crucial partnership between Harmanpreet Kaur and Amelia Kerr, worth 66 runs, which put Mumbai ahead in the game. Despite Kerr’s dismissal and the loss of another wicket, Kaur’s steady performance ensured there were no late hiccups. Notably, she surpassed Meg Lanning to become the all-time leading run-scorer in the tournament, sealing Mumbai’s victory with authority.

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Winning her second toss in a row, Harmanpreet Kaur chose to bowl first once again. This decision proved fruitful as speedster Shabnim Ismail swiftly justified her captain’s call by taking a couple of quick wickets. Mumbai Indians Women maintained control throughout the game, with all their bowlers consistently building pressure and taking wickets at regular intervals. While Ismail shone with three wickets, it was Amelia Kerr who quietly made her mark by claiming four wickets.

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Despite a couple of useful contributions from Kathryn Bryce and Tanuja Kanwar down the order, Gujarat managed to reach a total just above the 120-run mark. However, defending this total was always going to be a daunting task against Mumbai’s strong batting lineup.

Harmanpreet Kaur showcased her batting prowess with a solid innings of 46 runs off 41 balls. Her innings comprised 5 fours and 1 six. She displayed good strike rotation, managing to score runs off 43.9% of the deliveries she faced. Additionally, she faced 41.5% dot balls and capitalized on 14.6% of boundary balls, demonstrating her ability to find the fence when needed while maintaining a steady scoring rate through effective rotation of strike.

Gujarat showed glimpses of promise in certain phases of the game, but they will be disappointed with the performances of some of their batters and the fielding lapses. Despite defending a low total, Kathryn Bryce and Tanuja Kanwar provided an early breakthrough each with a wicket in their first overs, and a run-out provided a glimmer of hope for Gujarat.

However, they struggled to contain the Mumbai Indians Women’s batting duo of Kaur and Kerr in the middle phase, allowing them to steadily rotate the strike. Additionally, there were some instances of sloppy ground fielding, which further added to their woes. Although Kanwar bowled impressively and managed to pick up another wicket towards the end, it was too late to stage a significant comeback by then.

Conclusion

Mumbai's skipper, Harmanpreet Kaur, highlights the team's strength in having a well-balanced side with numerous talented all-rounders, which adds depth to the squad. She acknowledges the consistent contributions of players like Shabnim Ismail, who performs admirably whenever given the opportunity, and praises the collective effort of the entire bowling unit.

Kaur emphasizes the importance of selecting the best bowlers from their deep lineup, ensuring effective execution on the field. Additionally, she expresses confidence in the team's top order, expecting them to find their rhythm and deliver strong performances as the tournament progresses.