Going Ballistic: Harmanpreet hit seven fours and two sixes in what proved to be an exciting innings of the match. , Photo Credit: Emmanuel Yogini
Occasionally, some teams find ways to beat the law of averages as well.
Mumbai Indians are doing just that in the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League in front of their fans, who couldn’t stop cheering them at the top of their voices at the Brabourne Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side registered their fifth consecutive win and made it to the playoffs with three matches to spare.
Mumbai Indians defeated Gujarat Giants by 55 runs by scoring 162 runs for eight wickets. In what was probably the best fielding performance in the WPL so far, her innings was curtailed as the Giants women threw themselves up to stop the ball and took catches out of thin air.
Such catches usually win matches. But, not against this MI side.
Harmanpreet again led from the front. He played some captivating shots of 51 (7×4, 2×6) in 30 balls. And Yastika Bhatia (44, 37b, 5×4, 1×6) provided the impetus early in the first innings.
Not entirely unexpectedly, he once again displayed his wide range of shots before running himself out. Earlier, he shared a 74-run partnership for the second wicket with Nat Sciver-Brunt (36, 31b, 5×4, 1×6).
Harleen Deol was the standout for the Giants even on a night when many of her teammates fielded brilliantly. She ran in quickly and took a two-handed diving catch at wide long-on.
An over earlier, he had run out Humaira Kazi with a direct hit from the deep. Earlier, Kim Garth took a blinder from left-arm spinner Tanuja Kanwar, running in from near the circle to send back Amelia Kerr (19, 13b, 2×4).
The Giants’ chase got off to a disastrous start, with Sophia Dunkley lbw to Sciver-Brunt on the first ball of the innings. And the chase was never underway. No veteran batsman reached 25.
Purple Cap-wearing Saika Ishaq went wicketless for the first time for MI, but it didn’t matter. Other bowlers raised their hands, as is often the case with good teams.