Mumbai, Mar 13 (UNI) Mumbai Indians Women delivered a commanding batting performance to post a formidable 213/4 against Gujarat Giants in the Women's Premier League (WPL) Eliminator at Brabourne Stadium here on Thursday.
Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt starred with the bat, each scoring 77, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur provided a late flourish with a quickfire 36 off just 12 balls.
Sciver-Brunt played a scintillating knock, smashing 10 fours and 2 sixes in her 41-ball innings. She brought up her fifty in style, pulling Danielle Gibson over midwicket for a six. Hayley, equally destructive, reached her half-century in the 11th over with a powerful pull off Tanuja Kanwar. Her 50-ball innings was laced with 10 boundaries and 3 sixes, setting the tone for Mumbai’s dominant total.
Gujarat endured a frustrating time on the field, dropping multiple crucial catches. Kanwar spilled a sitter to give Sciver-Brunt a reprieve in the 18th over, while Gardner missed a straightforward chance at long-on to dismiss Hayley earlier. Wicketkeeper Beth Mooney also put down an early edge from Matthews, further compounding Gujarat’s woes.
Boundaries flowed freely as Matthews and Sciver-Brunt took charge. Hayley capitalised on the loose deliveries, smashing consecutive fours off Priya Mishra in the seventh over. Sciver-Brunt was equally aggressive, executing a reverse paddle past the keeper for four off Gardner in the ninth over before lofting Gibson over mid-on with ease.
The final overs saw Harmanpreet taking over, smashing consecutive sixes off Meghna Singh in the 19th over. Hayley continued her onslaught against the spinners, clearing the ropes twice off Priya Mishra in the 15th over. Sciver-Brunt added to Gujarat’s misery with two more sixes in the 14th over.
Mumbai finished their innings at 213/4 in 20 overs, with Gibson picking up two wickets for 40 runs. Gujarat now face a daunting task, needing 214 runs to secure a much-needed victory to storm into the final. UNI BDN SSP