In a mismatch of epic proportions, Mumbai Indians stamped their authority with an all-round performance to beat Gujarat Giants by 143 runs as the Women’s Premier League got underway in Navi Mumbai on Saturday. After captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s sensational 30-ball 65 hitting 14 fours to post a mammoth 207/5, Mumbai Indians bowlers led by Saika Ishaq (4/11) restricted Gujarat Giants to just 64/9. Gave. 15.1 overs and a dream start to the contest. Gujarat Giants captain Beth Mooney was injured in the first over and retired hurt after initial tests on the field, and could not return to bat again.
Mumbai Indians not only dominated Gujarat Giants from the start but also displayed their attacking style with both bat and ball in the very first game itself, much to the delight of the packed crowd.
India and Mumbai Indians captain Kaur registered her maiden half-century of WPL with stunning strokeplay and added 89 runs in just 42 balls with New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr (45 not out in 24 balls, 6x4s, 1×6). Fireworks.
Kaur’s innings was straight out of a textbook for all domestic players looking at their team, the competition and beyond. He found gaps at will, connected the ball perfectly, and didn’t give the opposition bowlers a single chance to capitalize.
But before Kaur’s onslaught, it was aggressive West Indies batsman Mathews, who looked set to score his first half-century of the tournament, but unfortunately fell just three runs short.
Mathews hit 4 sixes and 3 fours in his 31-ball 47 and added 54 for the second wicket with Nat Sciver-Brunt, setting the stage for a strong first innings for the victorious side.
England star Sciver-Brunt was in his element on Saturday night as after hitting 5 fours in his 18-ball 23, he bounced back in an opening spell of 2-0-5-2 to derail Gujarat Giants.
It was definitely a debut to forget for the Gujarat Giants, who didn’t have much to cheer about.
After Mumbai Indians smashed a total of 31 fours and 6 sixes after their bowlers were thrashed, the wheels came off completely when they were left staggering at 23/6 after 7.1 overs.
With the pace gained in the first half of the game, matters took a turn for the worse for Gujarat Giants as the chase began.
In the first over, Mooney, the captain of Gujarat Giants and arguably the best batsman in the side, retired hurt after facing only his third ball. It is believed that he injured his left knee after making a few paces for a run but decided against it.
On the final delivery, Nate Sciver-Brunt drew first blood and had Harleen Deol caught at deep third man for a two-ball duck.
The England player returned to hurt Gujarat Giants further in the third over, this time dismissing opener Sabbhineni Meghna for 2 runs in 4 balls.
But before losing Meghna, Gujarat Giants had suffered a major blow as Ashley Gardner, with Hayley Mathews pulling off a sharp catch at first slip off right-arm seamer Issy Wong, came back for a golden duck.
Sayka Ishak dismissed Annabel Sutherland (6) in the fifth over and made a comeback in the seventh over of the innings to clean bowl Georgia Wareham (8), making the most of the pressure exerted by the impressive right-arm seamer Wong at the other end. Benefited more. , who did not concede a goal in his first spell (3-0-7-1).
Left-arm orthodox spinner Saika returned with 3.1-1-11-4.
The duo of Dayalan Hemlata (29 not out) and Manasi Joshi (6) did their best to avert the inevitable, but Mumbai Indians completed the win with 29 balls to spare.
Earlier in the game, Gujarat Giants captain Mooney decided to take over wicketkeeping duties – something he hasn’t done regularly in his career – and invited Mumbai Indians to bat after winning the toss.
Mooney’s side made too many mistakes in the field, with bowlers straying down the leg side and poor fielding in the first half, which in a way highlighted the lack of time and opportunity that WPL teams have had. Until the tournament.
But before all that, the WPL began with a scintillating opening ceremony familiar Razzmatazz featuring Bollywood actresses Kiara Advani and Kirti Sanon, who performed with singer AP Dhillon, and the evening sky lit up with spectacular fireworks.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and was auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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