Mumbai Indians Women vs Gujarat Giants Highlights: WPL 2023 Highlights – MI win by 143 runs: Harmanpreet Kaur set the stage on fire as Mumbai Indian began their WPL campaign with a thumping 143-run win over Gujarat Giants. The MI skipper scored WPL’s first half-century as she smashed 14 boundaries in an epic knock at the DY Patil Stadium. In response, Giants lost Beth money to injury and crumbled to just 67 all out. Follow MIW vs GG LIVE Updates on Insidesport.IN
Mumbai Indians Women vs Gujarat Giants Highlights: Harmanpreet Kaur, Bowlers star as Mumbai Indians thrash Gujarat Giants in WPL 2023 opener, win by 143 runs – Watch Highlights
Mumbai Indians were off to a thunderous start as they outclassed Gujarat Giants by 143 runs and won the inaugural match of the Women’s Premier League at DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai. Adding to the fireworks was skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who led from the front to score the tournament’s first-ever half century.
“It was a brilliant start, it felt like a dream come true,” said the captain. “We kept things simple and clear. It was a big day for women’s cricket but we told the team to not worry about it and play naturally and express themselves.” She further mentioned that while their opener was definitely encouraging, the team will remain focused on keeping the momentum going. “It was a big victory, yes, but the next games are very important,” she said.
The opener started with Gujarat Giants winning the toss and opting to bowl first. Mumbai Indians then opened with West Indies captain Hayley Matthews & wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia.
Bhatia took strike first and played out Ashleigh Gardner cautiously but Matthews was on song from the outset as she swung Mansi Joshi for a six off just the second ball she faced before hitting a four off the very next ball.
Matthews was aggressive in the powerplay and especially severe on anything short. Bhatia was the first wicket to fall as she fell for one to Tanuja Kanwer.
That brought England vice-captain Nat Sciver-Brunt to the crease, and her and Matthews stitched a quick-scoring partnership together as Mumbai Indians scored 44 in the powerplay. Both Matthews & Sciver-Brunt continued to be brutal on anything short or on their pads as they peppered the leg side boundary regularly.
Mumbai Indians Women vs Gujarat Giants Highlights: Harmanpreet Kaur, Bowlers star as Mumbai Indians thrash Gujarat Giants in WPL 2023 opener, win by 143 runs – Watch Highlights
Sciver-Brunt & Matthews put on a 54-run stand before both of them departed in successive overs for 23 (18) and 47 (31) respectively. Matthews’ fast start laid the perfect platform and captain Kaur blitzed the first fifty of the tournament ever in just 22 balls as Mumbai Indians put the bowlers under a lot of pressure. She received great support from Amelia Kerr, who used the sweep shot profitably against Gujarat’s spinners and also drove crisply through the off side.
Kaur used her favoured sweep shot to hit the spinners off their lengths and also targeted the sweeper cover boundary against the pacers. Pooja Vastrakar provided the late fireworks as Mumbai Indians notched a mammoth total of 207/5 on the board.
MI’s talismanic skipper Kaur top scored with 65 off just 30 balls, while Kerr chipped in with a fine 45 off 24 deliveries. Talking about her incredible innings, she said, “I just thought I will watch the ball and back myself. I will not think too much, and instead react to the situation.”
Gujarat Giants were rocked early in the chase as their skipper Beth Mooney retired in the very first over. Mumbai Indians’ bowlers were on target from the outset as Issy Wong rattled Giants with her pace.
Mumbai Indians Women vs Gujarat Giants Highlights: Harmanpreet Kaur, Bowlers star as Mumbai Indians thrash Gujarat Giants in WPL 2023 opener, win by 143 runs – Watch Highlights
Saika Ishaque, who Sciver called “the most exciting young bowler” bowled full and straight and reaped the rewards as she scalped four wickets, including Annabel Sutherland and Georgia Wareham for single digit scores. Such was the dominance of the bowlers that none of the Gujarat batters were able to reach double digits except Dayalan Hemalatha (29*) and later, Monica Patel (10). While the young Ishaque was the pick of the bowlers, Sciver-Brunt and Kerr picked a brace apiece to mark a brilliant start at the WPL.
Mumbai Indians will now gear up to face Royal Challengers Bangalore on Monday March 6 at 7:30 pm at the Brabourne Stadium.
Mumbai Indians (Playing XI): Yastika Bhatia (wk), Harmanpreet Kaur, Natalie Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Mathews, Pooja Vastrakar, Issy Wong, Humaira Kaazi, Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Jintimani Kalita, Saika Ishaque.
Gujarat Giants (Playing XI): Beth Mooney(w/c), Sabbhineni Meghana, Harleen Deol, Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Dayalan Hemalatha, Georgia Wareham, Sneh Rana, Tanuja Kanwar, Monica Patel, Mansi Joshi
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