In a commanding display of skill and determination, the Mumbai Indians (MI) kicked off their campaign in Season Three of the TATA Women’s Premier League (WPL) with a decisive five-wicket victory over the Gujarat Giants (GG) in Match 5. Maintaining their unbeaten streak against GG, MI now boasts five wins out of five encounters with the Giants.
The victory was largely attributed to the stellar performances of MI bowlers Hayley Matthews, Amelia Kerr, and Natalie Sciver-Brunt, who collectively dismantled the GG batting lineup. Matthews, with figures of 3-16, was the pick of the bowlers, while Kerr and Sciver-Brunt chipped in with 2-22 and 2-26, respectively, restricting GG to a modest total of 120 runs.
MI’s fielding was also top-notch, highlighted by Kerr’s spectacular catch to dismiss Dayalan Hemalatha. The Giants struggled to build momentum, losing crucial wickets early in their innings. Harleen Deol stood out for GG, contributing 32 runs, but her efforts were insufficient to post a challenging target.
Chasing 121 for victory, MI encountered a few bumps along the way, including the early dismissal of captain Harmanpreet Kaur. However, Natalie Sciver-Brunt’s composed knock of 57 off 39 balls ensured MI reached the target with 23 balls to spare. Her second consecutive half-century cemented her role as a pivotal player for MI in this match.
The win sets a positive tone for MI’s campaign in Season Three as they continue to build on their impressive track record. Meanwhile, GG will need to regroup and address their batting vulnerabilities to bounce back in the tournament.
Brief Scores:
- Mumbai Indians: 122/5 in 16.1 overs (Natalie Sciver-Brunt 57, Amelia Kerr 19, Kashvee Gautam 2-15)
- Gujarat Giants: 120/10 in 19.3 overs (Harleen Deol 32, Hayley Matthews 3-16, Amelia Kerr 2-22, Natalie Sciver-Brunt 2-26)
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