Women's Premier League 2023: Mumbai Indians thrash Gujarat Giants in tournament opening match

Women's Premier League 2023: Mumbai Indians had a stunning start to the Women's Premier League campaign as they decimated Gujarat Giants by a huge margin in the inaugural WPL match in Navi Mumbai on Saturday. 

Mumbai posted a mammoth 207/5, courtesy to captain Harmanpreet Kaur's fireworks of 30-ball 65 laced with 14 boundaries. The hosts came up with an equally fierce bowling performance, led by Saika Ishaque (4/11), to limit Gujarat Giants to just 64/9 in 15.1 overs, and registered a dominating victory.

Gujarat had a poor start as their captain Beth Mooney suffered an injury in the first over and retired hurt after the on-field initial checkup. She could not return to bat again and cost Gujarat dearly.

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Mumbai not only kept Gujarat Giants under check right from the beginning but also displayed their aggression with both the bat and the ball, delighting a fairly-packed crowd.

India and Mumbai Indians captain Kaur was in her usual self as she recorded the first-ever half-century of WPL with stunning strokeplay. She came up with a stunning 42-ball-89 knock and was ably accompanied by New Zealand's Amelia Kerr (45 not out from 24 balls, 6x4s, 1x6) after Hayley Matthews provided early momentum.

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Gujarat bowlers found themselves helpless in front of Kaur, found gaps at will, connected the ball perfectly, and did not give a single chance to the opposition bowlers to have an edge.

But before Kaur took Gujarat bowlers to task, it was aggressive West Indies batter Matthews, who was on the verge to score the first fifty of the tournament but fell just three runs short.

Matthews smashed 4 sixes and 3 fours to score 47 from 31 balls and knitted 54 runs for the second-wicket partnership with Nat Sciver-Brunt. The Mumbai duo laid a solid foundation for a strong first-innings total.

England star Sciver-Brunt was in her elements on Saturday night as she shined with the bat and the ball. She first hit 5 fours in her 18-ball 23, and then returned with an opening spell of 2-0-5-2 to derail Gujarat.

Gujarat could never recover from their performance and end up their first match on a losing note.

After Mumbai batters hammered Gujarat bowlers all over the park for 31 fours and 6 sixes, Gujarat made a fumbling start to their campaign, tottering at 23/6 after 7.1 overs.

With being thrashed in the first half of the match, Gujarat were gasping for breathe as soon as their chase began.

In the first over, Gujarat skipper and arguably the best batter in the side, Mooney retired hurt only on her third ball. She is believed to have injured her left knee after making a few paces for a run but deciding against it.

On the final delivery, Nat Sciver-Brunt took the first wicket getting Harleen Deol caught at deep third man for a two-ball duck.

The England player returned in the third over to hurt Gujarat further, this time cleaning up opening batter Sabbhineni Meghana for a 4-ball 2.

But before they lost Meghana, Gujarat had suffered a huge blow in the form of Ashleigh Gardner, with Hayley Matthews taking a sharp catch at the first slip off the right-arm pacer Issy Wong to walk back for a golden duck.

Saika Ishaque removed Annabel Sutherland (6) in the fifth over, and returned in the seventh over of the innings to send Georgia Wareham (8) back, making the most of the pressure created by the impressive right-arm seamer Wong from the other end, who gave no room for scoring in her first spell (3-0-7-1).

The left-arm orthodox spinner Saika returned with a spell of 3.1-1-11-4. The duo of Dayalan Hemlatha (29 not out) and Mansi Joshi (6) did its best to delay the inevitable, but 
Mumbai registered the victory with 29 balls to spare.