and Harmanpreet finishes it off in style! Right in the slot outside off. Harmanpreet picks the length, gets down on one knee and smokes it clean over the deep mid wicket fence. A trademark stroke to polish off what is now becoming a trademark and clinical run-chase!
GG Women vs MI Women, 3rd Match at Bengaluru, WPL, Feb 25 2024 - Match Result
MI Women won by 5 wickets (with 11 balls remaining)
11:05pm That will be all from us, folks. We will be back tomorrow as the Delhi Capitals clash with the UP Warriorz. Until then, this is goodbye from me (Shashwat), Thilak and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Take care!
Harmanpreet Kaur, Mumbai Indians captain: We have a very balanced side, all the all-rounders are the best in their countries. She has been great so far. Whenever she (Ismail) has gotten the opportunity, she has wanted to contribute. Our bowlers complement each other and that is a positive. (On having as many as nine bowlers in the eleven) We are just going with the best match-ups. When you have such a long bowling line-up, you have to think who has the best match-up and then pick (the bowlers). We want them (the top order) to give us a solid start. It is just two games and I am sure they will bounce back.
Amelia Kerr, Player of the Match: When you are bowling later on in the innings, you can get hit but also get wickets. For me, it is about working out the conditions and going to variations. It came out well tonight. It (the googly) is something I practice, it is a useful option in T20 cricket, especially against left-handers. The way Shabs (Shabnim Ismail) started off, it allowed us to stay on top. Charlotte Edwards (MI head coach) asked me to just go out there and bat till the end. Just about backing my game and I tried to play low-risk cricket in that situation. (On playing for MI) It is an amazing franchise to play for. Amazing group of people, that is what I enjoy most. We have match-winners and we are fortunate to have so many. Nice to see so many people step up at different times.
Beth Mooney, Gujarat Giants captain: I was a bit nervous about the first game against Mumbai but got through it unscathed fortunately. (On the score) We let ourselves down in the first ten overs. Credit has to go to TK and Bryce to get us to a defendable total. We were 20 runs short in the end to make it a challenging chase. Lot to take away from the first innings. (On Bryce) She was very good tonight. She has been a great find, hopefully this is just a sign of things to come. Sometimes you have to take the result out, especially in a new team. It is disappointing to lose but we take the positives and move on to the next game. taking the emotion out of the result is really important.
Shabnim Ismail: I went back to Cape Town, worked with my bowling coach to start getting some swing. Happy it worked out. I am still working as hard as I can to contribute to my team. I have worked a lot (on getting swing) and happy I could do that today. (On switching to the Mumbai Indians) I don't like to put pressure on myself, I like to do my thing and keep things simple. It is not easy for Wong, and that my success is her success and her success is my success. (On the pitch) The pitch we played on the first day was better, it was quicker. The wicket was much slower tonight but there was movement. So, I decided to bowl a little fuller.
10:43pm A fairly comfortable win for the defending champions, despite losing a couple of wickets towards the end. They found themselves in a bit of early bother, with Yastika and Matthews both departing inside the powerplay. Sciver-Brunt, though, injected momentum and alleviated the pressure. Harmanpreet then got into her work and played a controlled hand, with Kerr providing her support through the middle overs.
The Giants just did not have enough runs to play with. Even when they picked up two early wickets, the required-run rate did not zing up to worrying proportions (from an MI perspective). Their fielding also left a bit to be desired. They will, however, be happy with how their bowlers adapted defending a low total, and they will go back to their hotel thinking that if they can put up good totals, they have the bowling attack to defend it.
Rana to bowl the penultimate over. MI need just four more runs to make it two out of two
length outside off. Amanjot continues swinging like a rusty gate and misses
shortish outside off. Amanjot goes back and taps it to cover point
full outside off. Amanjot tries to swipe it away but only connects with fresh air
throws up the bait outside off. Harmanpreet comes down the track and shanks it towards deep mid wicket
tossed up on a length on off. Harmanpreet defends
Just five needed now
outside edge and this races away! Back of a length outside off. Harmanpreet has a loose waft at it away from her body and gets a nick that beats the keeper to her right!
full on middle and leg. Amanjot lunges forward and plonks it towards short mid wicket
length on off. Amanjot comes half forward and pokes it towards mid on
Amanjot strides out
knocks her over! Flighted up deliciously on a length on off stump. Vastrakar plays for the turn but the ball keeps coming back in. She is beaten in the flight too and cannot get to the pitch of the ball. Sneaks in between bat and pad, and rattles the stumps. Kanwar and Mooney are pumped, and perhaps they still believe! The umpires did check if the Giants had enough fielders inside the circle and after watching a replay or two, the third umpire was satisfied that there was no infringement.
back of a length on off. Harmanpreet knocks it to long on with minimal fuss
very full on leg stump. Pushed down the ground to long on
Vastrakar on strike
full on leg stump. Harmanpreet eases it out to deep mid wicket
big appeal, and given! Reviewed straightaway! Length delivery angled into off stump. Kerr looks for the scoop again and seems to miss. The ball flicks up off the pad and is caught by Mooney. Not sure if the umpire gave it out as lbw or caught-behind. Looks like it is an lbw review. No bat involved. Impact is in line with off stump and the ball is crashing into off stump according to Ball Tracking. Kerr has to go!
Kerr with the scoop now! Just like Harmanpreet and Sciver-Brunt earlier in the piece, Kerr gets into position really early. The bat is angled perfectly and she laps this full ball over the keeper
fullish on off. Kerr gets right behind the ball and presents the full face of the bat
full on middle and off. Harmanpreet walks across her stumps and flicks it towards mid on
short outside off. Harmanpreet rides the bounce and cuts it straight to backward point
short and wide outside off. Harmanpreet flays at it and only connects with fresh air
Tahuhu to bowl her third
Just 17 more needed and MI have 30 balls to get there. A victory seems more a matter of when rather than if. Unless, of course, GG can produce something truly special in what remains of this game
length on leg stump. Harmanpreet uses the angle and tucks it away off her pads
2W | 1W | |||
1W | ||||
2W | ||||
1W | ||||
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | |
Toss | Mumbai Indians Women, elected to field first |
Series | |
Season | 2023/24 |
Player Of The Match | |
Hours of play (local time) | 19.30 start, First Session 19.30-21.00, Interval 21.00-21.20, Second Session 21.20-22.50 |
Match days | 25 February 2024 - night (20-over match) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee | |
Points | Mumbai Indians Women 2, Gujarat Giants Women 0 |
Over 19 • MI-W 129/5
MI Women won by 5 wickets (with 11 balls remaining)