WPL 2024: Mumbai Indians’ captain Harmanpreet Kaur smashed 95 runs to beat Gujarat Giants, a thrilling victory at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. With this win, Mumbai Indians secured 10 points in their first seven matches, helping them qualify for the playoffs as the first team.
Munni won the toss for them and decided to bat first. Hele Matthews clean-bowled Laura Wolvaardt in the third over, giving Mumbai Indians an early success. However, a significant partnership of 121 runs between Munni and Dayalan Hemalatha changed the game’s course. Sajeevan Sajna sent Munni back after scoring a brilliant 85 runs off 35 balls, including eight fours and three sixes against RCB.
After Munni’s dismissal, Gujarat Giants lost several wickets, including sending Fobe Leichfield back by Saika Isaac before Pooja Vastrakar clean-bowled Ashley Gardner, reaching 159 runs for 4 wickets. Despite losing wickets on the other end, Hemalatha continued her assault. However, her innings ended in the 17th over at the hands of fast bowler Shabnim Ismail. Hemalatha scored 74 runs off 40 balls with nine fours and two sixes, marking her first half-century in WPL. Bharati Fulmali contributed with 21 runs off 13 balls, helping Gujarat reach 190 runs for the loss of seven wickets in the first innings.
Isaac was the standout bowler for Mumbai Indians, taking two wickets and conceding 31 runs in four overs. Interestingly, Harmanpreet Kaur used a total of eight bowlers against Gujarat Giants.
Yastika Bhatia and Matthews started the chase for Mumbai Indians targeting 191 runs. Tanuja Kanwar and Matthews shared a partnership of 50 runs before Tanuja sent Matthews back in the sixth over. Shabman MD dismissed dangerous Natalie Sciver-Brant for just two runs, bringing the second success for Gujarat Giants. However, Yastika kept the scoreboard ticking despite wickets falling around her. Eventually, the pressure got to her, and she fell just one run short of her half-century, losing to Gardner. She scored 49 runs off 36 balls, including eight fours and a six.
Harmanpreet’s Dominance: After that, Harmanpreet took charge against Gujarat and completed her second half-century of the season in just 33 balls. She maintained a crucial partnership with Harmanpreet Kaur, laying a solid foundation. She dismissed spinner Sneha Rana in the 18th over and reached the target of 23 runs in the last 12 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes.
Harmanpreet and Kaur took the game to the final over, with Mumbai Indians needing 13 runs to win. Then, Harmanpreet hit a six off Gardner’s first ball, ultimately leading her team to victory, remaining unbeaten on 95 runs off 48 balls, including 10 fours and five sixes.
With this win, Mumbai Indians climbed to the top of the WPL 2024 points table with five wins in their first seven matches. Meanwhile, Gujarat Giants are at the bottom of the table with just two points from six matches.