In a mismatch of epic proportions, Mumbai Indians crushed Gujarat Giants by 143 runs to stamp their authority with an all-round present because the Women’s Premier League obtained underway in Navi Mumbai on Saturday. After posting a mammoth 207/5, powered by captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s sensational 30-ball 65 laced with 14 boundaries, Mumbai Indians’ bowlers led by Saika Ishaque (4/11) produced an excellent present to limit Gujarat Giants to only 64/9 in 15.1 overs and make a dream begin to the competitors. Gujarat Giants captain Beth Mooney suffered an damage within the first over and retired damage after preliminary checkup on the sphere, and couldn’t return to bat once more.
Mumbai Indians not solely dominated Gujarat Giants proper from the beginning but additionally showcased their aggressive fashion of play each with the bat and the ball within the first sport itself, delighting a fairly-packed crowd.
India and Mumbai Indians captain Kaur recorded the first-ever half-century of WPL with gorgeous strokeplay and added 89 runs from simply 42 balls with New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr (45 not out from 24 balls, 6x4s, 1×6) after Hayley Matthews supplied the preliminary fireworks.
Kaur’s innings was straight out of textbook for all of the home gamers watching in her workforce, competitors and past. She discovered gaps at will, related the ball completely, and didn’t give a single likelihood to the opposition bowlers to capitalise.
But earlier than Kaur’s onslaught, it was the aggressive West Indies batter Matthews who appeared set to attain the primary fifty of the event however sadly fell simply three runs quick.
Matthews smoked 4 sixes and three fours to make 47 from 31 balls and added 54 runs for the second wicket with Nat Sciver-Brunt, an affiliation that laid the platform for a robust first-innings complete for the profitable aspect.
England star Sciver-Brunt was in her parts on Saturday night time as after smoking 5 fours for her 18-ball 23, she returned a gap spell of 2-0-5-2 that helped derail the Gujarat Giants off the observe.
It was definitely a forgettable first outing for Gujarat Giants who didn’t have a lot to cheer about.
After their bowlers had been hammered everywhere in the park for a grand complete of 31 fours and 6 sixes by the Mumbai Indians, the wheels got here off fully once they had been left tottering at 23/6 after 7.1 overs.
With the pounding acquired within the first half of the sport, the issues grew to become worse for the Gujarat Giants as quickly as their chase started.
In the primary over, Gujarat Giants’ captain and arguably the most effective batter within the aspect, Mooney retired damage after dealing with solely her third ball. She is believed to have injured her left knee after making just a few paces for a run however deciding in opposition to it.
On the ultimate supply, Nat Sciver-Brunt drew the primary blood getting Harleen Deol caught at deep third man for a two-ball duck.
The England participant returned within the third over to harm Gujarat Giants additional, this time cleansing up opening batter Sabbhineni Meghana for a 4-ball 2.
But earlier than they misplaced Meghana, Gujarat Giants had suffered an enormous blow within the type of Ashleigh Gardner, with Hayley Matthews taking a pointy catch on the first slip off the right-arm pacer Issy Wong to stroll again for a golden duck.
Saika Ishaque eliminated Annabel Sutherland (6) within the fifth over, and returned within the seventh over of the innings to scrub up Georgia Wareham (8), profiting from the stress created by the spectacular right-arm seamer Wong from the opposite finish, who gave no room for scoring in her first spell (3-0-7-1).
The left-arm orthodox spinner Saika returned with 3.1-1-11-4.
The pair of Dayalan Hemlatha (29 not out) and Mansi Joshi (6) did their finest to delay the inevitable, however Mumbai Indians accomplished the win with 29 balls to spare.
Earlier within the sport, Gujarat Giants’ skipper Mooney determined to take up wicketkeeping duties – one thing which she hasn’t executed repeatedly in her profession – and invited Mumbai Indians to bat after profitable the toss.
Mooney’s aspect made loads of errors within the discipline, with the bowlers straying down the leg aspect as a rule within the first half and fielding poorly, which in a approach highlighted the dearth of time and alternative that the WPL groups have gotten within the lead-up to the event.
But earlier than all of that, WPL started with the acquainted razzmatazz of a glittering opening ceremony that includes Bollywood actresses Kiara Advani and Kirti Sanon, who carried out alongside singer AP Dhillon and the night sky was lit up by spectacular fireworks.
(This story has been edited by Mahaz News workers …)
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