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WPL 2023, GG-W vs MI-W, Match 1 - Live Blog


image-leu9cpthMumbai Indians-Women won the first match of the Women's Premiere League 2023 (Source: Twitter)

11:17 PM IST | Probuddha: So that's it from the first match of the Women's Premier League. Mumbai Indians have registered a huge victory to kickstart the tournament. Signing off from this match but stay tuned to OneCricket as we bring you the live blog throughout this tournament.

11:15 PM IST | Srivathsa: A thumping of epic proportions. MI-W have crushed Gujarat in the opening game of the Women's IPL. Much like 2008 when KKR handed RCB a hammering, this game has gone only one way. Chasing 208, Gujarat were set back when Mooney after an innocuous back foot block hobbled off, pulling something. 

From then it was a procession as wickets fell at regular intervals. Gardner and Harleen Doel went for ducks and soon Gujarat were 23-7 with Mooney retired hurt.

But Dayalan Hemalatha went down fighting with a couple of good sixes and the last batter Monica Patel too impressed with two good-looking shots. But it was all Mumbai who were rampant with the ball with the left-arm spin of Saika Ishaque finishing with a four-fer. 

Earlier Hayley Matthews, Harmanpreet and Amelia Kerr shone with the bat as Mumbai made a big score. Matthews made 47 but it was Harmanpreet who dazzled with her strokeplay - at one stage she hit 7 fours in a row to delight the crowd. At the end, the brilliant Kerr added more colour to the innings with a fantastic knock of 45 from just 24 balls.

Gujarat leaked too many boundaries and did not have any clue to the continued assault. And the chase was never a contest as Gujarat lost by 143 runs.

Aside from the contest, a landmark day for Women's cricket in India and overall as well, as the inaugural WPL kicked off amid a razzmatazz of celebrities and a host of dignitaries. Hopefully like the Men's tournament this one will go from strength to strength.

BOWLED 'EMMMMM There ends the Gujarat Giants innings. Mooney will not be batting so that marks the end of the match. A huge huge victory for Mumbai Indians by 143 runs. The Giants have been steam rolled away. Gujarat Giants have been bundled out for just 64 runs here.


And after a losing 8 wickets and playing 13.2 overs, Gujarat Giants have managed to reach the 50 mark.



10:55 PM IST | Probuddha: This is a DRS taken for the WIDE call. Harmanpreet is not ready to even concede that single run as a gift. This is a great aggressive attitude here by the MI skipper.

MI can do nothin wrong today. That appeal was turned down by the umpire and Harmanpreet decided to take the review, and the on-field decision had to be overturned. So, the 8th wicket falls for the Giants.

10:46 PM IST | Probuddha: So there goes the Gujarat Giants past the dreaded 49 runs mark.

WOW!!!! what a shot there by Dayalan Hemlatha. Where was she hiding this long. A good length ball and Hemlatha steps down, lifts the ball straight over the bowler's head for six runs. That was some quality by the all-rounder.

10:37 PM IST | Probuddha: A six and a boundary of that over picked by Hemlatha. So at last a Giants player justifying her talents.

SIXXXX!!!!! Something to cheer about for the Giants' fan. A good length ball put over the long-on fence by Hemlatha. 

10:31 PM IST | Probuddha: Giants are just trying to survive out their now. The match is well past them. It is just how long the Giants keep the inevitable waiting. And imagine after such a heavy defeat, they will have to play their next match tomorrow. This will take a mental toll on the team

I think I will stop updating for now.... As it seems like things will be over in the next five minutes. The batters are just coming and going back. The Giants have lost their seventh and all eyes will be on how quickly things get over. I would like to seem some of the RCB fans now, their record is about to be broken

10:24 PM IST | Probuddha: This is utter humiliation for the Giants here. As I said in the first innings, this team looks like they have not gelled properly yet. A miserable show here in the second innings after the supreme batting effort in the by the Mumbai Indians of the match.

GONE!!!!!!! Appeal and the finger is raised. The batter has taken the review but this looks plumb to me. Good length ball and that was a googly, which the batter fails to read. She was wrapped on the pads and the necessary proceedings for the DRS is going on now. The replays confirm the on-field decision. So now it is 23 for 6 for the Giants. 



HALF THE SIDE DOWN NOW!!!!!!! Sutherland falls. Good length ball on the stumps. The batter looks to work the ball away on the leg-side but misses the line and the furniture behind her is shattered. 22 for 5, RCB fans will be enjoying this 😜

10:15 PM IST| Probuddha: So the powerplay has come to an end. In the first six overs of their innings, Gujarat Giants have managed just 17 runs for the loss of 4 wickets. Unarguably, advantage Mumbai Indians.


ONE MOREEEEE WICKET!!!!! Good length ball and Sutherland looks to do something out of the box. She walks across the stumps and tries to scoop the ball over fine leg but deflects it back to the stumps and the fourth wicket falls for Gujarat Giants. 12 for 4, I don't think there is a comeback on the papers from here.



10:02 PM IST | Probuddha: One more all-rounder who has been spoken off in high regards, Dayalan Hemlatha is out there. Let us see what she can do for the Giants.

OMG!!!! One more goes!!!!! This time Meghana's stumps have been shattered by Nat Sciver-Brunt. It seems like the chase is overs even before it started. 



9:54 PM IST | Probuddha: Ashleigh Gardner is out there and I think she holds the key here for Gujarat. See I have cursed it!!!!!!!!! Good length ball and that seems away a bit, Gardner looks to drive the ball on the up and gets an outside edge to Hayley Matthews, the lone slip there. Nothing going right for the Giants, they are in deep deep trouble here.



9:48 PM IST | Probuddha: Bad news for the Gujarat Giants. Skipper and their best batter Beth Mooney walks out off the field suffering from a cramp. This will increase the pressure on the team and as I say, Harleen Deol succumbs under pressure. Looking to go for the big shot but ends up top edging it to the fielder at third man. At present it seems like, MI will be convincing winners here. 

The players are taking the field once again and we are all set for the Gujarat Giants' chase.

9:39 PM IST | Arijit: 130 runs have come off the last 10 overs and the Mumbai Indians Women have propelled the scoreboard to 207 runs. 

It was all fireworks at the D.Y. Patel Stadium today in the tournament opener. After Yastika Bhatia was dismissed, Hayley Matthews initiated the slaughter at the cue end of the powerplay. Earlier, it was Beth Mooney, the skipper of Gujarat Giants, who won the toss and elected to field first. 

Nat Sciver-Brunt joined Matthews for the second wicket partnership and glued 54 runs from 40 balls. It established the base for a good total and it was the Calypso Power that we got to witness at the early half of the innings. 

Wareham got the better of Sciver and Gardner removed the dangerous Matthews in the 10th over. Soon, Amelia Kerr and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur steered the innings from there and added 89 runs together. In one of the overs of Monica Patel, Harmanpreet Kaur thrashed four boundaries on a trot. She continued the momentum on to the next over and made it seven boundaries on a row for herself. She made a flamboyant 65 off 30 balls with Kerr scoring 45 off 24 balls and staying unbridled at the end. Cameos from Pooja Vastrakar and a solitary off Wong helped Mumbai to score 207 at the end. 

9:30 PM IST | Probuddha: A stylish end to a powerful innings here. Izzy Wong signs off with a SIX for Mumbai Indians. They have set a massive total of 208 runs for the Gujarat Giants. 

200 comes up and in the very first match we see the landmark being achieved. What brilliant batting display here by the Mumbai Indians.

9:23 PM IST | Probuddha : Somehow I feel that the Gujarat Giants have not gelled properly. It looks like Mooney has not got the exact grip as to what she can expect from her players. On the other hand, the MI players look very well informed about their roles in the team.

9:19 PM IST | Probuddha: Harmanpreet Kaur has departed but Mumbai Indians maintain the momentum. Amelia Kerr is carrying on from where her skipper left. 



OH!!!!!! WICKET!!!!!! HARMANPREET KAUR DEPARTS. Full ball and Harman was looking to go over the off side but gets an outside edge to the point fielder. But that takes away nothing from the wonderful knock that Harmanpreet has played here. She has laid the foundation for her team, and for the tournament. A standing ovation is what the 'Number 7' deserves.





9:09 PM IST | Probuddha: Harmanpreet Kaur have come out in the 10th gear here. It has been seven boundaries on the trot for her. If she continues batting in this mode, Mumbai Indians will go well over 200 runs. But one thing is for sure, the Indian skipper has already made the Indian T20 League a HIT!!!!!!

OH MY GODDDD!!!! This is batting of the highest class. Four consecutive boundaries here. Harmanpreet Kaur is looking in supreme touch. 21 runs of that over and this reminds of the RCB murder that Brendon McCullum did in 2008 in the first match of the IPL. It is these kinds of knock that set up the tone and the future of tournaments.  Make that five, one more boundary of the first ball she faces in the next over. That brings up the half-century for the MI skipper. So, Harmanpreet Kaur is the first ever player to score a half-century in the Women's Premier League





8:54 PM IST | Probuddha: Harmanpreet Kaur is on fire here. She is not sparing anybody. Off stump, leg stump 'Harry' has an answer to everything. On the opening night Harmanpreet Kaur is setting a great example.

4,4..... Harmanpreet Kaur is sweeping her way out of the pressure that was building on Mumbai Indians. This is excellent batting here by the MI skipper. And as I say that Amelia Kerr keeps the momentum going with a boundary to end that Wareham over. Brilliant batting display!!!!!

8:48 PM IST | Probuddha: This is a sort of rebuilding phase here for the Mumbai Indians. But Harmapreet Kaur have kept the momentum going with two consecutive boundaries in that last over.

WICKET Falls and it is the danger batter, Hayley Matthews. She misses out on a half-century here. She played a brilliant knock off 47 runs from 31 balls. But Matthews misjudged the length there and was looking cut a rather full delivery. She will be upset to not have registered herself as the first ever half-centurion in the history of the tournament. 

Harmanpreet Kaur, the Mumbai Skipper walks out into the middle.



WICKET WICKET WICKET!!!!!!! Nat Sciver-Brunt (23 off 18) departs here. Full pitched ball on the off stump. Natalie looks to go over the mid-off fielder but does not get enough timing on it. It ends up being an easy catch and the second wicket falls.

Hayley Matthews is on fire at the moment. 



8:30 PM IST | Probuddha: Nat Sciver-Brunt and Hayley Matthews are really using all their experience here. They are rotating the strike and keeping the score mobile, while capitalising on the chances they get to fetch the occasional boundaries. Very very mature batting by the duo. Mooney is looking a bit puzzled, she is making quite a few changes here. 

8:26 PM IST | Probuddha: So the powerplay has come to an end. We can definitely say that Mumbai Indians are ahead at the present. Hayley Matthews is continuing her godly form from the Women's T20 World Cup. Though Gujarat Giants have lost a wicket, Mumbai Indians have reached 44 runs in the first six overs. 

8:23 PM IST | Probuddha: Well that was not a good projection for Women's Cricket. A silly misfield in the deep by Sabbhineni Meghana allows Mumbai Indians two consecutive boundaries.


8:12 PM | Probuddha:  The first three overs have been done and dusted. The initial nerves will now be settling down for the players. Matthews got off to flying start but the fall off the first wicket has slowed things down a bit. MI would still look to be at least 40 plus at the end of the Powerplay.

Natalie Sciver-Brunt has made her way out in the middle.

Over 2.2: The first wicket falls!!!!!! It is Yastika Bhatia who perishes. It is Tanuja Kanwar who picks up the wicket. Tossed wide outside the off stump and Bhatia looks to go for an uppish drive, but hits it straight to the fielder at point.



Over 1.1: The first six of the tournament has been brought up. It is Hayley Matthews who achieves the feat off Mansi Joshi's bowling. A short ball on the middle stump, Matthews just picks up the ball on one feet over the square leg fence for six runs.


Ashleigh Gardner have conceded just two runs off the first over of the WPL.

Ball 1: Good length ball on the off stump. Yastika Bhatia punches the ball off the back foot to the point fielder. A dot to start the proceedings.

Hayley Matthews and Yastika Bhatia follow the Gujarat Giants fielder on to the field. Okay, so a spinner will be starting the proceedings it seems. So it is Ashleigh Gardner the Man of the Tournament from the Women's World Cup 2023, who will be bowling the first over. The count down begins and here we goooooooo!!!!!!!

There walk out the players and we are all set for the live action...

7:54 PM | Probuddha: The players walk out into the field and line-up for the National Anthem of India. 

We are just momnets away from the first ball of the tournament.

So, the playing XIs for the first match are here. Let us have a look at them. 

Mumbai Indians (Playing XI): Yastika Bhatia (wk), Hayley Kristen Matthews, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Natalie Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Pooja Vastrakar, Humaira Kazi, Amanjot Kaur, Jintimani Kalita, Saika Ishaque, and Isabelle Wong.


Gujarat Giants (Playing XI): Beth Mooney (c/wk), Sabbhineni Meghana, Harleen Deol, Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Dayalan Hemalatha, Georgia Wareham, Sneh Rana, Tanuja Kanwar, Monica Patel, and Mansi Joshi.


Probuddha: The dew factor might be behind that decision by Beth Mooney. The wicket will be good for batting throughout the match and buckle your seat belts for a high scoring thriller.

Toss Report: Gujarat Giants have won the toss and have decided to field first.

IT IS TIME FOR THE TOSSSSS!!!!!!!

Pitch Report: There is a green patch on the strip. There will be movement on the track and it will favour the pacers. Chances of dew setting in towards the latter part of the match. The skipper winning the toss might look to field first.  

The trophy has been unveiled by the five captains and here is a glimpse of the moment.



The wait is shortening. Just 10 minutes from the toss. 

Let us now have a look at the skippers of the five franchises that will be playing in the tournament. 


Women's Premier League (WPL)
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@wplt20
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Women's Premier League (WPL)
@wplt20
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Women's Premier League (WPL)
@wplt20
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The Mumbai Indians skipper, Harmanpreet Kaur has already made a trip to the pitch to check the conditions. 



Things are heating up....



7:02 IST | Probuddha: We are just about half an hour away from the toss of the first match in the history of the Women's Premier League. I am really hoping to see a greatly competitive match. 

Mumbai Indians have a reputation to protect as the Men's team is the most successful team in the history of the IPL with five titles to their name. On the other hand, the IPL franchise from Gujarat won the IPL title in their debut season. So a lot of expectations riding on the players taking the field today.

KEY PLAYERS

Mumbai Indians: The biggest dependency of the Mumbai Indians team will be on their skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. She will have to play the role of the batter around whom the rest of the batting line up revolves. 

Barring Harmanpreet Kaur other important names could be. 

  • Amelia Kerr
  • Chloe Tryon
  • Hayley Matthews

If we talk about the Indian talents in the team there are names like Pooja Vastrakar, amanjot Kaur, Saika Ishaque and Yastika Bhatia.

Gujarat Giants: The Gujarat Giants have a good accumulation of international and Indian players. But one of the prime weapons for them in this match as well as throughout the tournament will be their skipper, Beth Mooney. 

Besides, Mooney here are a few more players who will be really important to the teams' cause. 

  • Ashleigh Gardner
  • Annabel Sutherland
  • Sophia Dunkley

If we talk about Indian talents who might play an important role in the team's run, there is Sabbhineni Meghana and Dayalan Hemlatha who could surprise a lot of people.

The excitement of the fans can be felt in the social media platforms.






6:20 PM IST | Probuddha: Hello and Welcome!!!!! The historic day in Indian cricket has finally arrived. The Inaugural edition of the Women's Premier League is just an hour away from its start. 

In the opening match of the tournament, Gujarat Giants-Women will be taking on Mumbai Indians-Women. Beth Mooney, the Australian star will be leading the Gujarat team, while Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian skipper will be in charge of the Mumbai Indians-Women team.

The DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai is all set for the action to begin. But before the match starts there will be grand opening ceremony and we will be keeping an eye on that for sure.