Harmanpreet Kaur showcased a brilliant batting performance with an unbeaten 71 to guide the Mumbai Indians to a seven-wicket victory over the Gujarat Giants, marking their highest successful chase in the Women’s Premier League on Tuesday.
Put in to bat, Gujarat Giants finished strongly thanks to Georgia Wareham (43 not out) and Bharti Fulmali (36 not out), setting a total of 192/5.
While chasing the formidable target, Harmanpreet achieved a 33-ball half-century, her 10th in the WPL, and surpassed 1,000 runs in the tournament, becoming the first Indian to reach this milestone.
She remained unbeaten on 71 off 43 balls, hitting seven fours and two sixes, as Mumbai completed the chase with four balls to spare, handing Gujarat their first defeat of the season.
Mumbai faced early trouble at 37/2, losing both openers within the powerplay, but Harmanpreet found a solid partner in Amanjot Kaur, who made a quick-fire 40 off 26 balls with seven fours.
The duo added 72 runs off just 44 balls, turning the game decisively in Mumbai’s favour.
Amanjot was aggressive on loose deliveries, using paddle shots and slogs to find fine-leg and mid-wicket boundaries, while Harmanpreet counter-attacked confidently, lofting Renuka Singh over mid-off and launching Ashleigh Gardner over long-on to control the required run rate.
After Amanjot’s departure, Harmanpreet was joined by Nicola Carey, who finished the game perfectly with an unbeaten 37 off 22 balls, including six fours.
Their unbroken 84-run partnership from 43 deliveries sealed the win.
Harmanpreet was dropped twice during her innings, making Gujarat pay heavily as Mumbai secured a memorable victory, strengthening their playoff position.
Earlier, Wareham remained unbeaten on 43 off 33 balls, hitting four fours and a six, while Fulmali capitalized on a tactical promotion after Ayushi Soni became the first player in the WPL to be retired out.
Fulmali smashed 36 not out off just 15 deliveries with three sixes and as many fours.
Fulmali’s late onslaught, which included two sixes and a four off Amanjot Kaur in the final 23-run over, helped Gujarat score 49 runs in the last three overs.
Gujarat had a strong start after a reprieve for Beth Mooney in the opening over when Mumbai’s 17-year-old wicketkeeper Gunalan Kamalini dropped an easy chance.
Mooney took full advantage, hitting successive fours off Hayley Matthews in an 18-run second over. After Sophie Devine (8) edged Shabnim Ismail, Mooney and Kanika Ahuja dominated the powerplay.
Ahuja hit three fours and a six in her quick 20 off nine balls, while Mooney raced to 32 off 24 as the pair added 42 in just 24 balls, lifting Gujarat to 62 for one.
After Mooney was caught and bowled by Amelia Kerr in the seventh over for 33, Ahuja maintained the momentum alongside captain Gardner, taking Gujarat to 96/2 in nine overs.
However, Mumbai regained control when Nicola Carey trapped Gardner (20) and Matthews had Ahuja (35) caught at long-on, reducing Gujarat to 99/4.
Ayushi’s slow 11 off 14 further stalled the innings before the late blitz from Fulmali and Wareham ensured a strong finish.
(With agency inputs)
