Match 1, Navi Mumbai, March 04, 2023, 08:00 PM
Mumbai Indians
207/5(20.0ov)
Gujarat Giants
64/10(15.1ov)
Mumbai Indians beat Gujarat Giants by 143 runs
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Harmanpreet Kaur
Commentry
That is it from the Women's T20 League opening game and it was certainly a historic one. Mumbai have registered a comprehensive win and Gujarat will look to leave this behind and come back stronger in their next game. The action continues as we have a double-header on Super Sunday, 5th of March. It will be Bangalore versus Delhi at 3.30 pm IST (10.00 am GMT) and UP versus Gujarat at 7.30 pm IST (2.00 pm GMT). Do join us a bit early for the build-up as well. Until then, goodbye and cheers!
Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of Mumbai, is the Player of the Match for her brilliant knock of 65 runs from 30 balls. She says that this is a brilliant start and feels like a dream come true. Adds that all things went their way. Shares that the plan was to keep things simple and play their natural game. Mentions that she was just watching the ball and backed herself. Also says that the plan was to hit the right areas with the ball and she is happy that everyone bowled as discussed. Ends by saying that they will look to keep going the way they started as the next games are equally important.
Time for the presentation ceremony...
Natalie Sciver comes for a chat as well. She says that it was a great start for them and they got a good result. Adds that this league is a great boost for Women's cricket and they get to learn a lot. She says that Saika Ishaque was great and it was a pleasure to watch her. Ends by saying that Kaur is amazing and it's great to play alongside her.
Sneh Rana is up for a quick chat. She says that this is just the start and it will take time for players to soak in the atmosphere. Adds that this game has been great learning for them and they will definitely come back stronger in the next game. Shares that the physio will provide an update on Beth Mooney in some time. Feels that if she is given the leadership, she will ask her team to keep its heads high. Ends by saying that everyone including the domestic players would have learned from this game.
Earlier in the game, it was all fireworks at the DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai in this opener. After Yastika Bhatia was dismissed early, Hayley Matthews initiated the good work with the bat at the cue end of the Powerplay. After she was dismissed, Harmanpreet Kaur and Amelia Kerr joined hands and made Mumbai reach a mammoth total of 207 runs. Beth Mooney, the skipper of Gujarat, won the toss and elected to field first, and it certainly did not go well for them.
To be honest, there is not much to write about the Gujarat batters here. They were under the pump right from the word go and never looked settled in the game right from the very first over. One may call it the pressure of chasing a heavy total or could call it the pressure of losing their skipper early on, but they will need to bounce back from this and come back stronger in their next game.
That was a rollicking performance from the Mumbai bowlers. They never let the Gujarat batters settle and kept on picking up wickets at regular intervals. Saika Ishaque picked up four wickets for her side and was certainly the pick of the bowlers. Amelia Kerr and Natalie Sciver picked up two each and Issy Wong had one in her kitty.
Well, well, it was certainly a one-way traffic in this inaugural game of the Women's T20 League. Mumbai won this game comprehensively with a huge margin of 143 runs. Gujarat will have to bounce back from this and come back fresh in their next game.
In over# 16
0W
Saika Ishaque 11/4(3.1)
15.1
W
OUT! BOWLED! THAT'S IT! Mumbai win by 143 runs! Saika Ishaque bowls this one short and on leg, Monica Patel gets across to pull this one past square leg. She gets into an awkward position and fails to get any bat on it. The ball crashes onto the leg stump and Saika Ishaque is delighted. The injured Beth Mooney will be unable to resume her innings and that brings an end to the Gujarat innings.
In over# 15
2
1
0
0
4
1
Hayley Matthews 8/0(1)
14.6
2
On a length and outside off, Dayalan Hemalatha moves forward and pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for a brace.
14.5
1
Short and on leg, Monica Patel works this one to square leg and takes a single.
14.4
.
DROPPED! Short and around off, Monica Patel goes back in her crease and cuts it straight to cover-point. Pooja Vastrakar there fails to hang onto it.
14.3
.
Short and around off, Monica Patel dabs this one towards point for a dot.
14.2
4
FOUR! Short and on middle, Monica Patel gets into a good position and pulls this one wide of deep mid-wicket for a boundary.
14.1
1
Starts with a short delivery on middle, Dayalan Hemalatha turns this one towards short fine leg and calls Monica Patel for a quick single. Issy Wong fires an accurate throw to Yastika Bhatia at the striker's end. She takes the bails off in a flash but the replays show that Monica Patel was safely in.
In over# 14
1
0
1
4
1
0
Jintimani Kalita 12/0(2)