Captain Harmanpreet Kaur (95 not out off 48 balls) finally came up with a knock that typifies her as it led Mumbai Indians to a scintillating seven-wicket win over Gujarat Giants in Saturday’s Women’s Premier League clash at the Kotla.
Harmanpreet’s mesmerising innings comprised 10 boundaries and five maximums as her unbroken 93-run stand with Amelia Kerr (12 not out) took MI home with just a ball to spare. That Kerr contributed only 12 in the unbroken fourth-wicket partnership goes on to reflect the solo effort from Harmanpreet that yielded her and her team crucial points from this game.
Following this win, MI have moved up to the top of the table with 10 points from seven matches.
Credit also goes to MI bowlers, especially Saika Ishaque (2/31), as they conceded only 51 off the last seven overs of the Giants innings and also took six wickets after captain Beth Mooney (66 off 35 balls) and Dayalan Hemalatha (74 off 40 balls) had taken the team total to 139/1 in 13 overs.
That certainly was one of the crucial elements of the game as the bottom-ranked team looked well set to cross 200 till Mooney and Hemalatha were at the crease.
The dismissal of Mooney in the 14th over off Sajeevan Sajana applied the brakes on the Giants’ progress as they couldn’t finish well at all.
Brief scores: GG Women 190/7 in 20 ovs (B. Mooney 66, D. Hemalatha 74; S. Ishaque 2/31). MI Women 191/3 in 19.5 ovs (H. Kaur 95 n.o.). MI Women won by 7 wickets.
