GG-W vs MI-W

The Mumbai Indians have got their first win of the third season of the WPL and the dominance was there for everyone to see. They were much more superior than Gujarat in all three departments which resulted in their domination all through the match. Like always it was a pleasure bringing all the live coverage from this encounter. The WPL carnival continues tommorow with the ICC Champions Trophy also slated to get underway. Do join us then and for many more sporting actions on Sportskeeda but for now this is the pair of Arya Sekhar Chakraborty and Lavil Saldanha signing off. 

Hayley Matthews is the Player of the Match, here is what she had to say: Yeah that's cricket sometimes. Sometimes you knock away better deliveries. Happy to get a few away but would have loved to carry on. The conditions suited me very well as a bowler, there was some turn which helped. I feel bowling in the stumps is very important. Trying to get the batters hit towards the bigger side. Yeah the close ones hurt the most, the match against DC we could have won but we knew we were playing good cricket. Everyone is chuffed on the way we came back today.

Harmanpreet Kaur (Mumbai Indians captain): Yeah definitely. Really happy that everything went according to plan and we could execute everything. Six overs are very important as I mentioned in toss. We picked the right bowlers and they provided the wickets which gave us a stable start. We have a great and balanced side and needs to keep doing the right things more consistently.

Nat Sciver-Brunt (Mumbai Indians): We were looking to play straight and stay positive. The attitude you have to pick up a boundary and rotate the strike and relieve pressure by not leaving it late in the game. We take each game as it comes. We focus on hitting straight, hitting against the line has often had us in trouble so that has worked for me. Off to Bengaluru and see how it plays out there. Everyone has the right mentality to take the game on and we don't worry about it. 

Ashleigh Gardner (captain, Gujarat Giants): We just lost wickets in heaps. We put too much pressure on the top order to score runs. The wicket played differently, having a lot more pace than what the other two wickets had. It seemed faster, there was a bit of turn when the spinners came on and I think we didn't adjust with them bowling nicely. We have got a nice little break. We have spoken about the one-week reset before the next game. We could have two wins, but we take them one game at a time. The younger players are doing nice. The passion they are bowling with, and their celebrations speak for that. They always put a 110% and are looking to put their best foot forwards. 

Mumbai Indians Women won by 5 wickets (with 23 deliveries to spare)

Natalie Sciver-Brunt 57(39) | Hayley Matthews 3/16(4)
Harleen Deol 32(31) | Kashvee Gautam 2/15(3)

A comprehensive win for the Mumbai Indians as they register their first win of WPL3. After a strong bowling performance, they made light work of the target of 120 and won by 5 wickets with 23 deliveries to spare. The target was well below par given how the surface had behaved coming into the game. Ashleigh Gardner and Tanuja Kanwar began well while Deandra Dottin also bowled a tidy opening over. 

It was Hayley Matthews who turned it on with three boundaries before pulling a half-tracker from Tanuja Kanwar straight to Harleen Deol at square leg. Nat Sciver-Brunt was the next batter and tried to stitch a partnership with Yastika Bhatia. She couldn't quite get the timing she was after and was eventually dismissed for 8 off 10 deliveries. Sciver-Brunt came out with positive intent and struck some exceptional shots, using the depth of the crease quite beautifully. 

She was at the top of her game against Priya Mishra as she lost her captain Harmanpreet Kaur at the other end at a crucial phase in the game. However, Amelia Kerr provided her ample support and ensured that the target was brought within touching distance with a stand of 45 runs. They took their chances from time to time and struck some impressive boundaries to never allow the required rate to climb. 

Amelia was dismissed in the 15th over but by then the damage was already done. Sciver-Brunt completed a well-deserved half-century but couldn't quite take her side over the finish line, getting dismissed in the 16th over. Two boundaries from G Kamalini and Sajeevan Sajana off the next two deliveries saw MI topple the score with 23 deliveries to spare. Kashvee Gautam was the pick of the bowlers for GG, finishing with figures of 2/15.

Sajana finishes it off in style and it's been a throughly dominant performance in all three departments of the game. The Gujarat Giants didn't have enough runs on the board and the Mumbai Indians romp home for the first match in the season. The Gujarat Giants were never in the game and a score of 120 was not going to be defendable on a rather good surface. GG have a lot to ponder on while MI will be high on confidence with this resounding win. 

16.1 Deandra Dottin to Sajeevan Sajana, FOUR! GAME, SET AND MATCH FOR MUMBAI INDIANS! Full and on the off stump, Sajana picks that one up nicely and hits it over mid-off. The ball drops safe and the ball races away to the fence for a boundary to end the over. A memorable end to the first leg of the tournament for MI, who win by five wickets and register their first win of the tournament

What a start to Kamalini's career in the WPL. A boundary to get off the mark and the Mumbai Indians just need 3 more runs to get over the finish line. Sciver-Brunt batted beautifully before giving her wicket away in that over. 

15.6 Priya Mishra to G Kamalini, FOUR! WHAT A WAY TO START IN WPL! Short and wide and outside the off stump, Kamalini cuts that one hard and the ball races away to the deep backward point fence for a boundary to end the over

Sciver-Brunt trying to finish the match early and ends up chopping it onto her stumps. Priya Mishra is delighted with the departure and it's time for what will be the final strategic time out of the match. The Mumbai Indians are in a very strong position here and will look to finish it off in the next few deliveries.

15.5 Priya Mishra to Natalie Sciver-Brunt, AND OUT! Full and outside the off stump, Sciver-Brunt looked to sweep that one towards deep square leg but ends up under-edging it and the ball goes onto the stumps and dislodging it. Ends up doing her job to perfection and leaves MI after they are only a few steps away from a win

Nat Sciver-Brunt b Priya Mishra 57 (39b, 11x4, 0x6)

15.4 Priya Mishra to Natalie Sciver-Brunt, FOUR! Full and on the off stump, Sciver-Brunt advances and hits that one over the fence on the bounce for a boundary

15.3 Priya Mishra to Sajeevan Sajana, length delivery down the legside. Sajana gets her pad to that one and it goes to short fine for a single

15.2 Priya Mishra to Sajeevan Sajana, FOUR! FULL TOSS, WAS IT OVER THE WAIST? Full toss from Priya, Sajana hits that one comfortably over mid-on and sends it racing along the turf to the fence for a boundary. Umpire's deem the delivery legal and we are back in action

15.1 Priya Mishra to Natalie Sciver-Brunt, back of a length delivery on the line of the off stump. Sciver-Brunt plays it towards deep midwicket for a single