Harmanpreet Kaur Leads Mumbai Indians to Victory Over Gujarat Giants

Mumbai Indians Secure Win with Stellar Performance

Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 14: In a remarkable display, Mumbai Indians (MI) triumphed over Gujarat Giants (GG) by seven wickets at DY Patil Stadium, thanks to captain Harmanpreet Kaur's record-setting tenth fifty-plus score. Her partnerships with Amanjot Kaur and Nicola Carey were pivotal in this victory.

This win marks MI's second consecutive victory this season, placing them in the second position after an initial loss to RCB.

Harmanpreet's achievement of her 10th fifty-plus score in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) surpasses MI's Nat Sciver-Brunt and UP Warriorz's Meg Lanning, both of whom have nine. Additionally, she became the second player, following Nat Sciver, to surpass 1,000 runs in WPL history, amassing 1,016 runs across 30 matches and 29 innings, with an impressive average of 46.18 and a strike rate of 146.18, including 10 fifties.

This chase of 193 runs is now the second-highest in WPL history, following RCB's 202-run chase against GG last season.

During the run chase, MI's openers G Kamalini and Hayley Matthews started strong, with Kamalini hitting a couple of boundaries before being stumped by Renuka Singh for 13 runs off 12 balls, leaving MI at 20/1 in 2.5 overs.

Despite the early loss, Hayley kept the momentum going, striking two consecutive fours off Rajeshwari Gayakwad and a six off Kashvee Gautam. However, her innings ended at 22 runs off 12 balls after a catch by Sophie Devine, leaving MI at 37/2 in 4.4 overs.

Harmanpreet and Amanjot then formed a solid partnership, with Amanjot hitting two fours against Sophie, bringing MI to 50 runs in just 6.2 overs.

Georgia Wareham's ninth over proved costly for GG, conceding 14 runs as Amanjot and Harmanpreet struck three fours, showcasing Amanjot's batting prowess.

Amanjot continued her assault, hitting two more fours off Tanuja Kanwer, and MI reached 88/2 at the 10-over mark, with Amanjot on 34* and Harmanpreet on 18*.

The runs kept flowing as the duo brought MI's total to 100 in 11.2 overs, but the 72-run partnership ended when Devine caught Amanjot for 40 runs off 26 balls, leaving MI at 109/3 in 12.1 overs.

In the 14th over, Harmanpreet hit three consecutive boundaries off Tanuja, and MI stood at 134/3 after 15 overs, with Harmanpreet at 47* and Nicola Carey at 11*.

Renuka's 15th over was particularly brutal, as Nicola struck five fours, pushing MI past the 150-run mark in 15.5 overs.

Harmanpreet reached her second consecutive fifty of the tournament in just 33 balls, hitting four boundaries and two sixes. She concluded the chase with a four against Sophie, finishing at 193/3 in 19.2 overs, with Harmanpreet scoring 71* off 43 balls and Nicola 38* off 20 balls.

Earlier, Gujarat Giants set a challenging target of 193 runs, concluding their innings at 192/5 in 20 overs, bolstered by a solid 52-run partnership between Georgia Wareham and Bharti Fulmali.

After being invited to bat first, Gujarat Giants started strong, with openers Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney hitting four boundaries in the second over against Hayley Matthews.

However, Shabnim Ismail dismissed Devine for eight runs off four balls, leaving Gujarat at 26/1 in three overs. Kanika Ahuja then contributed with a six and a four, helping Gujarat reach 40/1.

By the end of the first powerplay, Gujarat had scored 62/1, marking their third-best powerplay score in WPL history.

Amelia Kerr removed Beth Mooney for 33 runs off 26 balls in the seventh over, leaving GG at 64/3.

Nicola Carey then took out Ashleigh Gardner in the 10th over, as Gujarat reached 99/3.

Hayley Matthews dismissed Kanika Ahuja for 35 runs off 18 balls, leaving Gujarat at 101/4.

Georgia Wareham and Ayushi Soni stabilized the innings, but Soni was retired out after scoring 11 off 14 balls. In the final overs, Bharti Fulmali (36* off 15 balls) and Wareham (43* off 33 balls) added an unbeaten 56-run partnership, helping Gujarat post 192/5.

For MI, Ismail (1/25), Matthews (1/34), Carey (1/36), and Kerr (1/40) were the wicket-takers.

Brief scores: Gujarat Giants 192/5 in 20 overs (Georgia Wareham 43*, Bharti Fulmali 36*; Shabnim Ismail 1/25) vs Mumbai Indians: 193/3 (Harmanpreet Kaur 71*, Amanjot Kaur 40, Kashvee Gautam 1/33).