Navi Mumbai, Jan 13 (NationPress) The captain of the Gujarat Giants, Ashleigh Gardner, expressed regret over missed opportunities in the field, specifically referencing the dropped catches of the "best player in the world" as Harmanpreet Kaur led the Mumbai Indians to a convincing seven-wicket win at DY Patil Stadium on Tuesday.

In pursuit of a challenging target of 193 runs, the Mumbai Indians exhibited both composure and aggression, with Harmanpreet (73 not out) concluding the match in style, contributing to a remarkable batting performance alongside Amanjot (40).

During her innings, Harmanpreet survived three close calls and eventually notched her fifth half-century against the Giants, becoming the second player in WPL history, following Nat Sciver-Brunt, to surpass the 1000-run milestone. Nicola Carey added the finishing touches with a seamless unbeaten 38 off 23 balls, featuring six boundaries. Harmanpreet sealed the victory with a boundary in the final over, concluding her innings with a stellar 71 off 43 balls, which included seven fours and two sixes.

"Yes, we did. It’s a cliché, but catches win you matches. We take pride in our fielding. And tonight, you can’t afford to drop the world's best players. We’ve had three close games so far and are disappointed to end up on the losing side," remarked Ashleigh Gardner, captain of the Gujarat Giants Women.

Gardner openly discussed her strategic choices, acknowledging Harmanpreet Kaur’s prowess against her and reflecting on her potential to use herself more as a bowler, despite having various bowling options available.

"I don’t have a favorable match-up against Harmanpreet. She has had the upper hand over me. I felt I could have utilized myself more as the captain, and it’s challenging with eight bowling options. In hindsight, I was the optimal choice. I can acknowledge that now. However, I wasn’t an effective match against her," she said.

Gardner praised the Giants’ middle-order strength, commending Georgia Wareham and others for consistently performing towards the end, asserting that 193 was a total that should have been sufficient for victory.

"We possess considerable power in the middle. We have seen Wareham’s capabilities at the back end. It’s gratifying to witness them excel. 193 is a target that should yield a win," she stated.

Highlighting the importance of teamwork, Gardner emphasized the need for intelligent running and boundary-hitting, noting that while individual disappointment is natural, the Giants executed their batting strategies effectively in the final overs.

"After our batting innings, I approached her and mentioned that it was a team effort. We needed to focus on boundaries and effective running between the wickets. Although it’s disappointing for her, I believe we concluded our innings satisfactorily," she concluded.