Mumbai in the playoffs by defeating Gujarat

Mumbai Mumbai Indians thrashed Gujarat Giants by 55 runs in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) on Tuesday, thanks to an excellent performance by the bowlers after captain Harmanpreet Kaur (51).

Mumbai, batting first, scored 162 runs in 20 overs, in response to which the Giants could only reach 107 runs at the loss of nine wickets.

The Giants held their ground for most of the first innings with tight bowling and fielding but Harmanpreet’s 51 took Mumbai to a respectable score. Harmanpreet hit seven fours and two sixes in his 30-ball innings. Apart from this, Yastika Bhatia scored 44 runs in 37 balls with five fours and a six, while Nate Siver Brunt contributed 36 runs in 31 balls with five fours and a six.

Mumbai’s bowlers made no mistake while defending their lowest score of the tournament so far. The collapse of the Giants began with the fall of Sophia Dunkley on the first ball of the innings, which ended with the dismissal of Tanuja Kanwar in the 18th over.

Siever Brunt and Hayley Mathews took three wickets each to contribute to this huge victory for Mumbai. Give Amelia Kar while Isi Wong gets a wicket.

With this win, Mumbai have confirmed their place in the playoffs of WPL. They are the first team to do so. Delhi Capitals are second in the table with eight points from five matches while Giants are fourth with just two points from five matches.

The Giants elected to bowl after winning the toss and Ashley Gardner dismissed Hayley Mathews for a duck in the very first over. Mumbai could only add 40 runs in the powerplay after losing the wicket of the explosive opener.

Yastika and Siver-Brunt anchored the Mumbai innings and added 74 runs for the second wicket. Kim Garth ended the partnership by dismissing Siver-Brunt off the last ball of the 11th over. In an attempt to increase the run rate, Yastika also got run out after seven balls.

After the pair returned to the pavilion, Harmanpreet took charge of Mumbai’s innings. He shared a 51-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Amelia Kar (13 balls, 19 runs). After Kar’s dismissal, there was a flurry of wickets for Mumbai but Harmanpreet continued to bat.

Kim Garth took a brilliant catch of Kar running backward off Tanuja Kanwar, while Sneh Rana took a catch of his own ball to walk Isi Wong. Humaira Kazi was run out in the 19th over trying to give strike to Harmanpreet.

Harmanpreet was also dismissed in the last over after completing her half-century. Mumbai added 50 runs in the last five overs losing five wickets and scored 162/8 in 20 overs.

Gardner was the best of the Giants’ commendable bowling, taking three wickets for 34 runs in four overs. Apart from this, Garth, Sneh Rana and Tanuja Kanwar got one success each.

Harmanpreet had given a strong score to his bowlers. Siever-Brunt made the score more challenging by dismissing explosive opener Dunkley lbw on the very first ball of the Giants’ innings.

Before the Giants could recover from the blow, Mathews dismissed all-rounders Meghna and Annabel Sutherland in the last over of the powerplay. The Giants’ troubles increased when Harleen Deol and Gardner were dismissed off consecutive balls.

Harleen was anchoring the Giants’ innings, scoring 22 off 22 balls including three fours, but was dismissed by Wong on the last ball of the ninth over. Vice-captain Gardner, who had the ability to handle the team, fell victim to tax on the first ball of the 10th over. Kar took the wicket of Dayalan Hemlata before the end of his spell while Siver-Brunt ended his spell by dismissing captain Sneh Rana (19 balls, 20 runs) and Kim Garth (08).

Mathews got his third wicket in the 18th over, however WPL’s best bowler Saika Ishaq went wicketless and ended the match with 20 runs in four overs.

Mumbai will next take on UP Warriors on Saturday, while Giants will face Capitals in their next match on Thursday.