Beth Mooney (Photo Source: Jio Cinema)
After much anticipation and build-up of several months, the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League finally got underway on Saturday, March 4 at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Giants are up against each other in the curtain raiser of the premier women’s T20 competition of India.
After being put in to bat first, Mumbai posted a mammoth total of 207/5 in their allotted 20 overs. In the second innings, all eyes were set on the star batter Beth Mooney as Giants came out to chase the huge target. However, before she could even get her innings started, she twisted her ankle while taking the first run and was seen limping off the field getting retired hurt on 0* (3).
Coming back to the first innings, Giants struck early as they sent a struggling Yastika Bhatia back to the dug out who could only manage one run off eight balls. After losing her opening partner, Hayley Matthews took the responsibility on her shoulders and attacked the bowlers to take full advantage of the powerplay.
She scored a brilliant 47 off just 31 balls smashing three fours and four gigantic sixes in her innings. She had the support of Nat Sciver-Brunt and the duo added 54 runs for the third wicket. Both Brunt and Matthews were dismissed in consecutive overs as Giants made a comeback in the game leaving Mumbai at 77/3 after 10 overs.
Harmanpreet Kaur and Amelia Kerr take Mumbai’s score past 200
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Amelia Kerr took the proceedings forward and damaged the Giants’ bowling attack, smacking them all around the ground. They were involved in an 89-run stand off just 42 balls.
Kaur departed after scoring 65 off 30 balls with the help of 14 boundaries. Following her captain’s dismissal, Kerr took the charge and scored a splendid 45* off 24 balls to help her side cross the 200-run mark.
In reply, Giants have got off to a horrible start as they were 16/4 after five overs. Sabbhineni Meghana, Ashleigh Gardner, Harleen Deol and Ananabel Sutherland all returned to the pavilion cheaply as Nat Sciver-Brunt picked up two wickets while Issy Wong and Saika Ishaque claimed one wicket each.
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