Latest Match Report – GG Girls vs MI Girls third Match 2023/24

Mumbai Indians (Harmanpreet 46*, Kerr 31, Kanwar 2-21) beat Gujarat Giants 126 for 9 (Kanwar 28, Bryce 25*, Kerr 4-17, Ismail 3-18) by 5 wickets

Harmanpreet and WPL run-chases

Harmanpreet and run-chases have been a love story within the WPL. She started this season with a half-century in a chase towards Delhi Capitals, very similar to she had accomplished within the very first match of the inaugural season, additionally towards Giants. She averages over 63 in chases within the temporary historical past of the competitors. Which is why Mumbai would have breathed straightforward even when Nat Sciver-Brunt’s departure had them at 49 for 3.

A pristinely timed cowl drive acquired her going towards Capitals, and right here, she punched Tanuja Kanwar’s left-arm spin via cover-point for 4 to get going. The goal in sight meant she might take her time, which she did at the same time as Sciver-Brunt attacked on the different finish. She introduced out her paddle sweeps and reverse-sweeps typically to manoeuvre the ball round and stored Mumbai nicely forward of the asking price. Within the firm of Kerr, she virtually introduced Mumbai inside sights.

Even after Kerr and Pooja Vastrakar fell in an area of 5 balls, there was no purpose for Mumbai to panic. Harmanpreet ensured it stayed that approach, ending off the match with a six over deep midwicket.

Giants lower all the way down to measurement

It was a dream begin for Mumbai after they opted to bowl. It didn’t take lengthy as soon as once more for Ismail to attract first blood. Ismail, whose worldwide retirement final yr left the cricketing world in shock, has been glowing as a T20 freelancer, and he or she was no totally different on Sunday. She set Veda Krishnamurthy, who was on her WPL debut, up with a size ball shifting away, earlier than getting one to nip again in sharply from a fullish size. Veda was on the transfer on the entrance foot and was pinned in entrance for a second-ball duck. In her subsequent over, Ismail meted out an identical remedy to Harleen Deol, getting her lbw. Giants misplaced two wickets in addition to each their evaluations within the first 16 balls.

Phoebe Litchfield – additionally on WPL debut – introduced her reverse sweep alongside and showcased it towards Hayley Matthews. However her keep was short-lived as she edged one to quick third off Sciver-Brunt. Harmanpreet always shuffled her bowlers round and by no means let the batters lower free. D Hemalatha’s one such effort had her gap out to long-on.

Sensing a chance to shut out the innings early, Ismail was introduced on for her final over within the eleventh of the innings. And she or he managed to dislodge the immovable Beth Mooney, who had steadily moved alongside to 24. At 5 for 58, Giants have been nicely and really in mush. And it solely acquired worse when Kerr joined the social gathering within the 14th over. She first had Ashleigh Gardner caught at long-on earlier than deceiving Sneh Rana with a incorrect’un to bowl her via the gate two balls later.

The rescue act of Bryce and Kanwar

When Giants have been struggling at 78 for 7 with simply over six overs to go, Kathryn Bryce, the one Affiliate participant in WPL 2024, was joined within the center by Kanwar. The duo managed to search out common fours off the 2 legspinners, Kerr and SB Keerthana. Bryce additionally managed to get beneath a tossed-up Matthews ball to tonk it into the deep midwicket stands. The pair helped Giants take 33 within the final 4 overs, regardless of the double-wicket remaining over from Kerr.

After the rescue act with the bat was accomplished, Bryce and Kanwar now started in earnest with the ball. The Scotland allrounder struck on her second ball within the competitors to have Yastika Bhatia miscue to mid-off within the third over. Introduced on because the fourth bowler within the fourth, Kanwar managed to have Matthews hit towards her left-arm spin straight into the ready palms of deep midwicket. In her remaining over – the seventeenth – she squared up Vastrakar to knock her over and completed with 2 for 21 off her 4 overs.

When she fired an correct throw to the wicketkeeper Mooney within the eighth over to catch Sciver-Brunt quick, it appeared that Kanwar might encourage Giants to do the unthinkable. Nevertheless, the skilled Harmanpreet ensured that Mumbai’s head-to-head towards Giants learn 3-0 of their favour on the finish of Sunday.