WPL inaugural match: Mumbai Indians crush Gujarat Giants by massive 143 runs

An all-round Mumbai Indians team dominated the tournament opener of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) with an outstanding performance from their bowlers. Spinner Saika Ishaque led the attack with an explosive spell that helped Mumbai Indians crush Gujarat Giants by a massive 143 runs at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Saturday.

In pursuit of 208, Gujarat Giants struggled from the beginning as they lost their entire top-order before the powerplay. In the first over of the match, skipper Beth Mooney had to retire hurt due to an ankle injury, which was a huge setback for the team, as they lost their best batter early in the chase.

England’s Nat-Sciver opened the bowling attack for Mumbai and delivered two jolts to Gujarat Giants by dismissing Harleen Deol and Sabbhineni Meghana. ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 Player of the Tournament, Ashleigh Gardner, was dismissed for a golden duck by Issy Wong, while Annabel Sutherland was clean-bowled by Saika Ishaque for 6. This early onslaught reduced GG to 12/4 in 3.4 overs, leaving them in a terrible position at the end of the powerplay.

GG needed a partnership that could exercise caution and hit big, but their downward spiral continued as Wareham was dismissed for eight by Saika Ishaque, who got her second wicket. Vice Captain Sneh Rana was then trapped leg before wicket by Amelia Kerr, and GG was staring at the possibility of a humiliating loss as they sunk to 23/6 in 7.1 overs.

Mumbai bowlers continued their onslaught over GG batters, with Kerr getting her second scalp by dismissing Tanuja Kanwar for a duck, caught by Nat Sciver at the cover region. At the end of 10 overs, GG was struggling at 36/7, with Mansi Joshi (1*) and Dayalan (17*) unbeaten.

Mansi’s 19-ball run at the crease came to an end when Saika Ishaque got her third wicket of the match by trapping her lbw, and GG was reduced to 49/8 in 12.4 overs. GG was in desperate need of a big partnership, but Mumbai Indians’ superb bowling performance left them in a difficult situation.

Mumbai Indians started their innings well with Hayley Matthews smashing Mansi Joshi for a four and six in the second over. But they lost wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia for just one run off eight balls. At the end of the powerplay in six overs, MI was 44/1, with Hayley Matthews (22*) and Nat Sciver Brunt (18*) unbeaten at the crease. Brunt was dealing in boundaries while Matthews entertained the crowd with some massive sixes. The duo brought up their fifty-run stand quickly. However, Georgia Wareham put an end to the 54-run stand by dismissing Brunt for 23 off 18 balls.

Ashleigh Gardner dismissed Matthews for 47 off 31 balls, with three fours and four sixes. MI was 77/3 halfway through their innings. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Amelia Kerr then took the charge and added quick runs to the scoreboard. At the end of 15 overs, MI was 142/3. Kaur, who scored 68 off 49 balls, was dismissed by Monica Patel. However, Kerr carried on the momentum and smashed a quickfire 38 off 18 balls, including three fours and three sixes.

Mumbai Indians finished their innings at a massive total of 207/5. In response, Gujarat Giants had a terrible start and lost their entire top-order before the powerplay. Skipper Beth Mooney retired hurt after seemingly twisting her ankle in the first over without scoring. At the end of the powerplay, GG was in terrible shape and desperately needed a huge partnership that exercised caution and also hit big. They were at 17/4, with Georgia Wareham and Dayalan Hemalatha at four runs each. Saika Ishaque, Sciver, Brunt, and Kerr took wickets at regular intervals and never allowed GG batters to settle in. GG finished their innings at 64/9, with Mooney retired hurt. Saika Ishaque led the bowling from the front with a spell of 4/11 in 3.1 overs. Mumbai Indians won the match by a massive margin of 143 runs, starting their WPL campaign with a bang.

Mumbai Indians’ innings got off to a good start, with Hayley Matthews hitting Mansi Joshi for a four and six in the second over. However, Yastika Bhatia was removed early by Tanuja Kanwar, leaving MI at 15/1 in 2.3 overs. Matthews was then joined by Nat Sciver Brunt, and they began to rebuild the innings. By the end of the powerplay in six overs, MI was at 44/1, with Matthews and Brunt still at the crease.

Brunt was playing aggressively, while Matthews was hitting big sixes. The two brought up their fifty-run stand quickly, but Georgia Wareham ended their 54-run partnership by dismissing Brunt for 23 off 18 balls. Matthews followed soon after, getting dismissed by Ashleigh Gardner for 47 off 31 balls. MI was 77/3 at the halfway point of their innings.

The fresh pair of Harmanpreet Kaur and Amelia Kerr then stepped up and continued to entertain the crowd with their brilliant shots. Kaur hit Wareham for three consecutive fours in the 12th over, helping MI cross the 100-run mark. The two continued to punish the GG bowlers, with Kaur hitting four consecutive fours in the 15th over. At the end of 15 overs, MI was 145/3, with Kaur and Kerr still unbeaten.

Kaur brought up her half-century in just 22 balls, becoming the first-ever WPL player to achieve the feat. MI also crossed the 150-run mark in 15.2 overs. Sneh Rana dismissed Kaur for 65 off 30 balls in the 17th over, but Pooja Vastrakar continued the power-hitting, smashing Gardner for three fours in the 19th over. MI finished their innings at 207/5, with Kerr unbeaten on 45 and Issy Wong on 6.

In reply, Gujarat Giants struggled to get going. England’s Nat-Sciver delivered two opening jolts, dismissing Harleen Deol and Sabbhineni Meghana. ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 Player of the Tournament Ashleigh Gardner was dismissed for a golden duck by Issy Wong, while Annabel Sutherland was clean-bowled by Saika Ishaque for 6. GG was reduced to 12/4 in 3.4 overs.

GG’s downward spiral continued, with Wareham’s dismissal for eight after Saika dislodged her stumps to get her second wicket. Vice-Captain Sneh Rana was trapped leg before wicket by Amelia Kerr. GG was at 23/6 in 7.1 overs.

The Mumbai bowlers continued to run riot over GG batters, with Kerr getting her second scalp by dismissing Tanuja Kanwar for a duck after being caught by Nat Sciver at the cover region. At the end of 10 overs, GG was at 36/7, with Mansi Joshi and Dayalan Hemalatha unbeaten.

Mansi’s 19-ball run at the crease ended at six runs. It was Saika who got her third wicket of the match by trapping her lbw. GG was reduced to 49/8 in 12.4 overs. Saika ended Gujarat’s innings by dislodging Monica Patel’s stumps for just 10. GG finished their innings at 64/9, with Mooney retired hurt. Mooney had led the bowling from the front, taking four wickets for just 11 runs in 3.1 overs. Sciver, Brunt, and Kerr took two wickets each, and MI won the match by a massive margin of 143 runs.

WPL inaugural match Brief Scores

• Mumbai Indians Women: 207/5 (Harmanpreet Kaur 65, Hayley Matthews 47, Sneh Rana 2/43)
• Gujarat Giants Women: 64/9 in 15.1 overs (Dayalan Hemalatha 29*, Georgia Wareham 8, Saika Ishaque 4/11)
• WPL Full Scorecard for Gujarat Giants Women vs Mumbai Indians Women