Clinical Mumbai Crush Gujarat Giants In A One-Sided Affair
Harmanpreet Kaur scored her third fifty of the tournament (Source: Twitter)
Harmanpreet Kaur's half century with the bat, followed by another dominating performance with the ball helped Mumbai Indians Women beat Gujarat Giants Women by 55 runs in Match 12 of the ongoing Women's Premier League (WPL 2023). This is fifth consecutive win for Mumbai, sustaining their unbeaten streak in the tournament.
Harmanpreet's fifty propel MI to 162
After being asked to bat first, Mumbai Indians Women posted a formidable 162 for eight in 20 overs. They did not have the best of starts as they lost in form Hayley Matthews early in the powerplay for duck. However, Yastika Bhatia alongside Nat Sciver made sure they did not lose any further wickets in the powerplay and managed to have 40 on the board at the end of the six overs.
Sneh Rana was terrific with her bowling changes, restricting MI to just 64 at the halfway mark. Sciver tried to up the scoring rate but was halted by Garth in her second spell. Yastika soon followed Sciver to the pavilion after having a big mix up with her captain.
Following the wicket of Yastika, Harmanpreet Kaur and Amelia Kerr kept the scoreboard going, eyeing a big finish towards the end. Tanuja Kanwar did removed Kerr before she did any further damage but Kaur kept the onslaught till the end, completing another half century and helped MI post over 160.
Gujarat goes down without any fight
Nat Sciver celebrating the wicket of Sophia Dunkley (Source: Twitter)
Chasing 163, Gujarat Giants had a terrible start, losing three wickets in the powerplay with only 34 on the board. Sophia Dunkley, who was back into the XI, got out in the very first ball of the second innings. Sabbhineni Meghana was disappointing as she could not capitalize her start once again.
MI bowlers did not stop after the powerplay as they continued to take wickets in regular intervals, including the one of Ashleigh Gardner and Gujarat were in the middle of a menace with five down at the halfway mark.
Skipper Sneh Rana tried to put up a fight but was sent back by Sciver before she did any further damage. The contest was far from alive after that wicket and MI went onto win by 55 runs. The two all-rounders of MI shines again, this time with the ball. Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver were the pick of the bowlers with three wickets each.
Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indians Women: 162/8 (20 Overs)
Harmanpreet Kaur 51 (30), Yastika Bhatia 44 (37);
Ashleigh Gardner 3/34 (4), Sneh Rana 1/17 (4)
Gujarat Giants Women: 107/9 (20 Overs)
Harleen Deol 22 (23), Sneh Rana 20 (19);
Nat Sciver 3/21 (4), Hayley Matthews 3/23 (4)
Mumbai Indians Women won by runs 55 runs