MI trounce Giants in WPL opener

Press Trust of India

Mumbai: In a mismatch of epic proportions, Mumbai Indians crushed Gujarat Giants by 143 runs to stamp their authority with an all-round show as the Women’s Premier League got underway here 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 a superb show to restrict Gujarat Giants to just 64/9 in 15.1 overs and make a dream start to the competition.  

Gujarat Giants captain Beth Mooney suffered an injury in the first over and retired hurt after initial checkup on the field, and could not return to bat again. Mumbai Indians not only dominated Gujarat Giants right from the start but also showcased their aggressive style of play both with the bat and the ball in the first game itself, delighting a fairly-packed crowd.

India and Mumbai Indians captain Kaur recorded the first-ever half-century of WPL with stunning strokeplay and added 89 runs from just 42 balls with New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr (45 not out from 24 balls, 6x4s, 1x6) after Hayley Matthews provided the initial fireworks. Kaur’s innings was straight out of textbook for all the domestic players watching in her team, competition and beyond.

She found gaps at will, connected the ball perfectly, and did not give a single chance to the opposition bowlers to capitalise. But before Kaur’s onslaught, it was the agg ressive West Indies batter Matthews who looked set to score the first fifty of the tournament but unfortunately fell just three runs short.

Matthews smoked 4 sixes and 3 fours to make 47 from 31 balls and added 54 runs for the second wicket with Nat SciverBrunt, an association that laid the platform for a strong first- innings total for the winning side.

England star Sciver-Brunt was in her elements on Saturday night as after smoking 5 fours for her 18-ball 23, she returned an opening spell of 2-0-5-2 that helped derail the Gujarat Giants off the track.  

It was certainly a forgettable first outing for Gujarat Giants who did not have much to cheer about.  After their bowlers were hammered all over the park for a grand total of 31 fours and 6 sixes by the Mumbai Indians, the wheels came off completely when they were left tottering at 23/6 after 7.1 overs.