WPL 2024, MI v GG: All-round Amelia, Harmanpreet fire MI to 2nd straight win
An all-round show from Amelia Kerr was the highlight of Mumbai Indians’ dominant win over Gujarat Giants in their second Women’s Premier League 2024 match on Sunday in Bengaluru.
The New Zealand all-rounder picked up 4 wickets and hit a 25-ball 31 as the defending champions successfully chased down a below-par total of 127 in 18.1 overs. It was Mumbai Indians’ second successive win as they had beaten Delhi Capitals in a last-ball thriller on Friday in the opening match of the tournament.
Harmanpreet Kaur built on her good start as the India captain, who struggled in the home season against England and Australia, followed up her fifty in the season opener with an unbeaten 46 (41 balls) on Sunday against Gujarat Giants. Veteran pacer Shabnim Ismail also played her part as she broke the back of Gujarat’s top-order in a sensational spell with the new ball in front of the healthy crowd at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Mumbai Indians’ chase did not get off to a great start. Yastika Bhatia, the half-centurion from the previous match, did not get going on Sunday for Mumbai Indians, who also lost star opener Hayley Matthews for 7. MI were reduced to 21 for 2 as pacer Kathryn Bryce and left-arm spinner Tanuja Kanwar struck early blows to keep Gujarat Giants in the hunt in their defence of 126.
However, captain Harmanpreet Kaur and the experienced Nat-Sciver Brunt stitched a 28-run stand to steady the ship. Sciver-Brunt hit 22 off 18 balls before she was run-out. The untimely dismissal did not trigger panic in the MI camp as Harmanpreet and Amelia Kerr struck down Gujarat’s hopes of defending the total with a 66-run stand for the 4th wicket.
Harmanpreet and Amelia did not take unwanted risks as they kept the scoreboard moving, using all their experience in the middle. Despite losing Amelia in the end overs, Harmanpreet kept her cool and hit the winning runs in the 19th over with a big six.
Mumbai Indians rode on S Sajana’s sensational last-ball six against Delhi Capitals on Friday and it seems the defending champions are only growing in confidence in the new season.
SHABNIM, AMELIA ROCK GUJARAT
Shabnim Ismail, returning to the fray after retiring from international cricket, demonstrated that her prowess with the ball remains undiminished. Opening the bowling for Mumbai, Ismail delivered fiery spells, claiming 3 wickets for just 18 runs in her 4 overs. Her ability to swing the ball back into the right-handers proved too much for the Giants’ top order, as she dismissed Veda Krishnamurthy and Harleen Deol, both trapped in front of the wicket by her inswinging deliveries.
Complementing Ismail’s pace was Amelia Kerr’s precision with leg-spin. Kerr, entrusted with the finisher’s role alongside her bowling duties, turned the game on its head with her tight lines and variations. She ended her spell with remarkable figures of 4 wickets for 17 runs in 4 overs, further tightening the noose around the Giants’ batting lineup. Kerr’s dismissals included key wickets that broke the backbone of Gujarat’s middle order, leaving them scrambling for runs.