Harmanpreet Kaur produced a captain’s knock of the highest class, smashing an unbeaten 71 to guide the Mumbai Indians to a seven-wicket win over the Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League on Tuesday.
The chase of 193 was Mumbai’s highest successful pursuit in WPL history and handed Gujarat their first defeat of the season, while tightening MI’s grip on a playoff spot.
Put in to bat, the Giants recovered strongly at the death through Georgia Wareham and Bharti Fulmali to post an imposing 192 for 5, setting the stage for a high-quality contest.
Turning Points
GG were handed an early lifeline when Mumbai’s 17-year-old wicketkeeper Gunalan Kamalini spilled a straightforward chance off Beth Mooney in the opening over. The Australian opener made Mumbai pay,
hammering Hayley Matthews for successive boundaries in an 18-run second over.
After Sophie Devine edged Shabnim Ismail for 8, Mooney found support in Kanika Ahuja as the pair took control during the powerplay. Ahuja played with freedom, striking three fours and a six in a rapid 20 off nine balls, while Mooney raced to 32 off 24 deliveries. Their 42-run stand in just 24 balls lifted Gujarat to 62 for 1.
Mooney’s innings ended in the seventh over when she was caught and bowled by Amelia Kerr for 33, but Ahuja kept the momentum going alongside captain Ashleigh Gardner. Gujarat reached 96 for 2 in nine overs before Mumbai fought back with timely strikes.
Nicola Carey removed Gardner for 20, and Matthews had Ahuja caught at long-on for a lively 35, reducing Gujarat to 99 for 4. The innings then stalled further as Ayushi Soni managed a slow 11 off 14 balls and became the first player in WPL history to be retired out in a tactical move.
The late surge, however, transformed the total. Wareham anchored the finish with an unbeaten 43 off 33 balls, hitting four fours and a six, while Fulmali capitalised on her promotion with a blistering 36 not out from just 15 deliveries. Fulmali’s assault included two sixes and a four off Amanjot Kaur in a 23-run final over, as Gujarat plundered 49 runs from the last three overs to reach 192 for 5.
Big Hits
Mumbai’s reply began shakily as both openers fell inside the powerplay, leaving them wobbling at 37 for 2. With the asking rate climbing, Harmanpreet Kaur took charge and found a vital ally in Amanjot Kaur.
The duo swung the momentum decisively, adding 72 runs off just 44 balls. Amanjot played a sparkling hand of 40 off 26 deliveries, peppering the boundary with seven fours and using the paddle and slog effectively to target fine leg and mid-wicket. Harmanpreet counter-attacked with authority, lofting Renuka Singh over mid-off and later launching Ashleigh Gardner over long-on to keep the chase on track.
Harmanpreet reached her half-century off just 33 balls — her 10th in the WPL — and in the process crossed 1,000 runs in the tournament, becoming the first Indian to achieve the feat. She was dropped twice during her innings, lapses Gujarat would come to regret.
After Amanjot’s dismissal, Harmanpreet was joined by Nicola Carey, who provided the perfect finishing support. Carey struck an unbeaten 37 off 22 balls, including six crisp fours, as the pair stitched together an unbroken 84-run stand from 43 deliveries.
Harmanpreet finished on 71 not out from 43 balls, with seven fours and two sixes, as Mumbai completed the chase with four balls to spare, sealing a memorable seven-wicket victory.
(With agency inputs)
