WPL 2024: Hard-Kaur Harmanpreet, Amelia steer MI to victory

Bengaluru: Mumbai Indians secured a five-wicket victory over Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday.

Harmanpreet Kaur opted to field first after winning the toss, and it quickly turned out to be the right decision on a two-paced pitch.

The defending champions were a well-oiled machine on the field. Harmanpreet was spot on with her field placements, and the experienced bowling line-up restricted the Giants to 126/9.

After an early wobble in the run-chase, Amelia Kerr (31) and Harmanpreet Kaur (46 n.o.) strung together a 66-run partnership as MI extended their win streak against the Giants to three.

Earlier, Shabnim Ismail (3/18) mixed her pace and lengths beautifully, dismissing Veda Krishnamurthy and Harleen Deol leg-before with a couple of off-cutters, before accounting for Beth Mooney.

Natalie Sciver-Brunt scalped Phoebe Litchfield in the final over of the powerplay to leave the Giants in a spot of bother.

Kiwi tweaker Amelia Kerr (4/17) then got into the act. After a tight first spell, the 23-year-old went looking for wickets in her second spell and was amply successful. Ashleigh Gardner holed out to Shabnim Ismail, and two balls later, Sneh Rana was cleaned up by a vicious googly.

Kathryn Bryce (25 n.o.) and Tanuja Kanwer (28) helped the Giants set a respectable target with a vital 48-run partnership.