Harmanpreet Kaur led Mumbai Indians to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Tuesday night. It turned out to be a record-breaking run-chase. It was the highest WPL total ever chased at this venue and the highest Mumbai have ever chased in the competition. It was fitting that Harmanpreet struck the winning blows.
“Mumbai Indians look better balanced right now. Gujarat Giants have squeezed out wins, leaning heavily on a strong batting line-up led by Sophie Devine and Ashleigh Gardner, but their bowling feels a bit light. MI is the complete package across departments, making this a crucial encounter, I expect them to come out on top,” former India stumper Saba Karim had said on the eve of the game and he was proved right by Harmanpreet and her valiant band of warriors.
Chasing 193 for victory, Mumbai were off to a not so happy start as they lost both the openers G Kamalini (13) and Hayley Matthews (22) with 37 on the board. But Amanjot Kaur and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur kept their side afloat. The Kaurs made batting look quite easy as they scored at a brisk pace before Sophie Devine intervened yet again. She got rid of Amanjot caught by skipper Ashleigh Gardner for 40 (26 balls; 7×4). The duo added 72 off 44 balls with Amanjot contributing 38 off 21 balls and Harmanpreet making 33 off 23 balls.
Harmanpreet then found an able ally in Nicola Carey and the duo took the match away from their rivals. The 16th over bowled by Renuka Singh proved to be the turning point as Mumbai got 20 from that over with Carey smashing four boundaries.
Harmanpreet then finished off the proceedings in style. She struck Rajeshwari Gayakwad for two consecutive boundaries in the 18th over and then nailed it by whipping away a Sophie Devine delivery to the boundary to set up celebrations in the Mumbai camp.
Harmanpreet remained unbeaten on 71 off 43 balls with seven fours and two sixes and Carey was not out on 38 off 23 balls with six fours.
It was the middle overs which made the difference. While Gujarat got only 74 while losing four wickets, Mumbai got 106 in that period while losing Amanjot.
Harmanpreet wins toss, asks Gujarat to bat first
Earlier, put into bat by Mumbai skipper Harmanpreet, Gujarat did not have a great start as they lost Sophie Devine (8), the hero of the last match, caught behind by Kamalini of pacer Shabnim Ismail with just 22 on the board. Beth Mooney (33; 26 balls, 3×4, 1×6) and Kanika Ahuja took the fight to the enemy camp as they added 42 for the second wicket in 24 balls.
After Beth’s departure, Kanika and skipper Ashleigh Gardner added 33 off 17 balls to keep the pressure on the Mumbai Indians. Ashleigh (20) and Kanika (35; 18 balls; 4×4, 2×6) fell in quick succession as Mumbai Indians clawed their way back.
However, Georgia Wareham and Ayush Soni (11) added 37 off 35 balls to steady the innings. Though the pace was slow, the duo ensured that runs kept ticking on. The last 24 balls of the innings turned things on its head. Georgia (43 not out; 33 balls, 4z4, 1×6) and Bharati Fulmali added 56 off just 24 balls to take Gujarat to a fighting score. Fulmali was the destroyer-in-chief as she scored a 15-ball 36 which contained three fours and an equal number over the fence.
Brief scores: Gujarat Giants 192/5 in 20 overs (Beth Mooney 33, Kanika Ahuja 35, Ashleigh Gardner 20, Georgia Wareham 43 no, Bharti Fulmali 36 no) lost to Mumbai Indians 193/3 in 19.2 overs (Hayley Matthews 22, Amanjot Kaur 40, Harmanpreet Kuar 71 no, Nicola Carey 38 no).
