WPL 2025: Captain Harmanpreet's stellar fifty propels MI to 179/6

Mumbai, March 10 (NationPress) Captain Harmanpreet Kaur showcased her leadership with a superb 54 runs off 33 balls, while Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amanjot Kaur provided essential support, guiding the Mumbai Indians to a total of 179/6 in their 20 overs against the Gujarat Giants during the 19th game of the Women's Premier League 2025, held at the Brabourne Stadium.

The Mumbai Indians began their innings with Amelia Kerr and Hayley Matthews, facing the new ball from Deandra Dottin. The opening started with a wayward wide from Dottin, but Matthews quickly capitalized on a full delivery, steering it past backward point for the first boundary. The West Indian all-rounder followed up with a six over long leg, ensuring MI had a solid opening over, accumulating 12 runs.

However, the introduction of Tanuja Kanwer brought some control, as she bowled a tight second over, allowing only a single run. Kashvee Gautam then entered the attack and struck early. Following a boundary from Kerr, an exceptional piece of fielding from Ash Gardner at mid-on resulted in a direct hit, running out Kerr for just 5 runs off 9 balls.

After Kerr’s dismissal, Nat Sciver-Brunt (NSB) joined Matthews at the crease. NSB got off the mark with a single, while Matthews unleashed a couple of boundaries, including a crisp cut shot past the short third. Mumbai reached 44/1 at the end of the power-play, establishing a solid foundation.

Gujarat introduced Priya Mishra after the power-play, and her entry proved effective. Matthews, who appeared in good form, edged behind to the wicketkeeper, departing for a well-crafted 27 runs off 22 balls. This wicket slowed MI's scoring rate as Harmanpreet Kaur walked in to join NSB.

With two seasoned batters at the crease, MI aimed to stabilize their innings. Ash Gardner bowled a tight over, yielding only four singles. However, NSB soon found her rhythm, reverse sweeping Priya Mishra for four and following it up with another boundary through covers.

Despite NSB’s aggressive approach, Gardner managed to break the partnership. She bowled a well-disguised delivery that resulted in a leading edge from NSB, which she caught herself, sending the English all-rounder back for a commendable 38 runs off 31 balls.

Amanjot Kaur joined the MI skipper and immediately showed intent. She got off the mark with a single before dispatching Dottin past extra cover for a boundary. Harmanpreet, meanwhile, kept the runs flowing, pulling a short delivery fine for four.

The 17th over saw Amanjot take charge, smashing boundaries through deep midwicket and backward point, before launching a six over deep square-leg. However, her cameo came to an end when she holed out to long-on, departing for a brisk 27 runs off 15 balls.

Harmanpreet, who anchored the innings exceptionally well, brought up her fifty with a fine shot over short fine-leg in the 19th over. She appeared poised for a significant finish but fell in the final over, mistiming a shot straight to Litchfield at deep mid-wicket for 54 runs off 33 balls. Yastika Bhatia added the finishing touches with a six over deep midwicket, followed by a boundary wide of long-on. A dropped catch at cover on the last ball resulted in a chaotic run-out, concluding MI's innings at 179/6.

For Gujarat, Tanuja, Kashvee, Priya, and Ashleigh each picked a wicket.

Brief scores:

Mumbai Indians 179/6 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 54, Nat Sciver-Brunt 38; Ashleigh Gardner 1-27, Priya Mishra 1-23) against Gujarat Giants