Harmanpreet Kaur’s smooth half-century was complemented by an outstanding bowling performance as the Mumbai Indians defeated Gujarat Giants by nine runs.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s fluent half-century was backed up by an outstanding bowling performance as Mumbai Indians defeated Gujarat Giants by nine runs in Mumbai on Monday, boosting their prospects of winning the Women’s Premier League. Harmanpreet demonstrated her talent as she smashed nine boundaries to knock 54 off 33 balls to anchor MI to a competitive total of 179/6. The bowlers then took charge, with great efforts from Shabnim Ismail (2/17) and Amelia Kerr (3/34) as MI bowled the Gujarat Giants out for 170 in 20 overs, despite Bharti Fulmali’s stunning 25-ball 61.
With this victory, Mumbai joined the Delhi Capitals on 10 points, but remained second due to a lesser net run rate. MI will try to secure straight qualification to the final by finishing first when they meet Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the last league encounter on Tuesday.
The Gujarat Giants, who finished the league stage with eight points, will face the second-place club in the standings in an eliminator on Thursday.
MI, who had a 5-0 record versus GG in the tournament’s short existence, thereby maintained their lead over the Gujarat team, which had come off three consecutive victories.Chasing 180, Harleen Deol (24) and Phoebe Litchfield (22) began strongly, but Gujarat lost wickets at regular intervals, leaving them at 70/5 in the 11th over.
Harleen hit some beautiful shots, including three straight fours off Hayley Matthews, who had previously dismissed Beth Mooney (7).
Kashvee Gautam (10), who had been promoted to open the batting, was sent back by young Sanskriti Gupta, and wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia stumped him quickly.
Shabnim Ismail then induced a thick edge from Ashleigh Gardner (0), reducing Gujarat to 41/3. Amelia Kerr used the DRS to dismiss Harleen, who was trapped in front of the stumps.Litchfield attempted some inventive shots, including a switch pull, but was eventually bowled out by Ismail as Gujarat’s chase stuttered.
Fulmali then raised hopes of a comeback with eight fours and four sixes, but Amelia dismissed her in her final ball, dashing GG’s dreams. Earlier, in addition to Harmanpreet, Matthews (27), Nat Sciver-Brunt (38), and Amanjot Kaur (27) contributed with fast innings.
Matthews got MI off to a good start, hitting a four and a six off Deandra Dottin in the first over. However, Amelia Kerr (5) was run out during Gautam’s over.
Matthews hammered a couple of boundaries, and Sciver-Brunt followed suit with two fours and a six, as MI reached 44/1 after six overs.After dismissing the dangerous Matthews, Priya Mishra gave up 13 runs in her subsequent over. Ashleigh Gardner, the captain, bowled two clean overs, but Harmanpreet took offense and hit Meghna Singh for a few of boundaries.
MI fell to 105/3 in the 14th over as Harmanpreet and Sciver-Brunt added 59 runs off 40 balls. Gardner then broke the stand with an outstanding caught-and-bowled effort after receiving a leading edge from the England player.
Before holing out to Gardner off Gautam, Amanjot Kaur dominated the middle overs, hitting four boundaries and a six in her explosive 27 off 15 balls.
With a single off Dottin, Kaur reached her fourth half-century against the Giants, but she was out in the 20th over.
