Amelia Kerr powers Mumbai Indians to consecutive win in WPL 2024 amidst strong start to title defence

Amelia Kerr delivered a fantastic all-round performance that powered Mumbai Indians to a five-wicket win against the Gujarat Titans in their Women’s Premier League (WPL) clash at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday.

Kerr scalped four dismissals for 17 runs to restrict the opposition to merely 126 in the first innings.

The New Zealand player followed that effort with a 31 off 25 balls as Mumbai overhauled the target in 18.1 overs after getting reduced to 21 for two in the fourth over. Kerr received excellent support from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (46 not out, 41 b, 5×4, 1×6)) as the pair made 66 runs for the fourth wicket as MI registered their second successive win in the tournament. Nat-Sciver Brunt (22, 18 balls) too played a good hand and her scoops behind the wicketkeeper for fours off pacer Leah Tahuhu were epitome of innovation and timing.

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But Brunt was run out as MI were in a spot of bother at 49 for three. However, Kerr and Harmanpreet displayed excellent game-awareness to bail their team out. With a paltry target in front, both Kerr and Harmanpreet did not have to show any unnecessary urgency.

They kept the board moving with singles and twos, while hammering those occasional boundaries. Harmanpreet sliced Katherine Bryce past point for a classy four, while Kerr lapped Tahuhu over stumper Beth Mooney’s head for a four. However, Kerr did not last till the final lap as another attempt to play a scoop off Tahuhu saw her getting trapped in front of the wicket.

But by then she had done the job. Earlier, Kerr and veteran pacer Shabnam Ismail (3/18) clamped down Giants with fine spells.

Ismail, who has retired from international cricket, showed that her fire had not dwindled while opening Mumbai’s bowling in the Power Play segment, dismissing Veda Krishnamurthy and Harleen Deol. Both Veda and Deol were trapped in front of the wicket with deliveries that swung back into them at a fair clip.