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And so there you have it! The Women's Premier League is underway and we're in for the first double-header of the competition tomorrow. Two other IPL franchises, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals, make their bow in the afternoon at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai before the Gujarat Giants return to the DY Patil Stadium as the UP Warriorz make their bow against them. Do join us for our coverage of these contests here on Sportskeeda and stay tuned to all the other cricketing news and coverage from around the globe on this very platform. For the moment though, this is the duo of Pratyush Rohra and Sooryanarayanan Sesha taking your leave. See you tomorrow - good night and take care!
A dominant show with the skipper leading the way for the Mumbai Indians. It was a dream game in every possible sense and Harmanpreet Kaur couldn't have asked for anything better. Of course, the day was beyond just the result - it was about a revolution in the women's game. A moment that will be etched in eternal cricketing history and believe us, we are just getting started. MI will want to carry this display forward when they take on the Royal Challengers Bangalore on Monday while the Gujarat Giants have a real quandary to solve with skipper Beth Mooney having a fitness cloud hanging over her head. Safe to say she won't turn up for the contest tomorrow, but the Giants will hope and pray that she won't miss a good chunk of the tournament.
Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur is the Player of the Match for her scintillating knock of 65 off 30 deliveries. Here's what she has to say: I think it was a brilliant start. It felt like a dream come true. The first day, we were hoping that all things went our way and I'm happy that whatever we did went our way. We kept things very simple and clear. We told everyone to go and play their natural game. Obviously a big day for women's cricket but we told them to be there, express themselves and back themselves. I just thought I'll watch the ball and back myself. Whatever came my way I reacted to the situation and that has been working for me. When we were batting we knew it was a very good batting wicket. When the opposition bowled the right spot, we knew that line and length wasn't easy to play. The bowlers executed everything that we discussed. We just want to keep going the way we started today. Obviously today was a big game and a big victory for us and we want to keep it going the same way.
'It's such an iconic day, an iconic movement for women in sports', says a very happy Nita Ambani, the Mumbai Indians co-owner. What a day indeed!
Natalie Sciver-Brunt (Mumbai Indians): What a game to start it off. The crowd went crazy in the first half. Great to be part of this competition. It's a bit of an occasion - was just trying to take some breaths and calm myself. It's such an amazing thing to be a part of. I took a few breaths and then got down to work with the bat. That's the best thing about playing in different competitions - you play with different people from all over the world and learn diff things. We've got something special going on. (On wearing jersey number 39) Just a little tribute (to wife Katherine Sciver-Brunt). Saika - she is the most exciting player I've seen to ever take a wicket. It's important to have local players contribute and I think we've got lots of them. (On Harmanpreet) It's very good to be on the same team. I've had that done to me in the past. She was incredible, she was so calm in the crease and it just flew off her bat. (On coach Charlotte Edwards) She's excited for all of us and is really excited to be part of this big competition.
Sneh Rana (Stand-in captain, Gujarat Giants): This was just a start. Some of the players soak in the atmosphere quickly and some others take time. I think it was a great learning for us today and we'll definitely come back strong. The physio will update in some time (regarding Beth Mooney). Wherever you get a responsibility, you have to stand up. If I get the opportunity to captain tomorrow, I'd like us to avoid our mistakes from today. I would tell the girls to keep their heads high and learn from today's game. We will come back stronger and definitely perform good.
As far as comprehensive outings go, this one was right out of the top drawer from the Mumbai Indians. They started off the blocks quickly with the big names clicking in, notably the big four of Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur and Amelia Kerr, all doing their bit with the bat to ensure their side posts a mammoth target on the board.
Chasing down a target of over 200 was always going to be a challenge for the Gujarat Giants and their task got significantly difficult by a multifold after Beth Mooney hobbled off injured. The captain's injury was followed by a flurry of wickets with the Giants finding them at 23-7 at one stage of this innings. That was largely down to some brilliance with the ball from Issy Wong, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr and Saika Ishaque.
There isn't much to talk about as far as the Gujarat batting unit is concerned. Dayalan Hemalatha was their top scorer and the only batter to score double-digit runs, followed by Monica Patel. An outing to forget for the Giants in the tournament opener and certainly one they'd like to forget. Someone who won't forget this game in a hurry though will be Saika Ishaque as she ended the game with a four-wicket haul.
Plenty of things to consider for the Gujarat Giants, especially considering the fact that they have a short turnaround and have to play again in less than 24 hours. As for the Mumbai Indians, the team will be delighted with this performance and can rest up before they take on RCB in a big clash day after tomorrow. The captains will have a bit to say after this contest, so stick around for the presentations.
15.1 Saika Ishaque to Monica Patel, BOWLS HER! FOUR FOR ISHAQUE! And that's the game with Beth Mooney not returning to bat! Drifts a back of a length delivery into the stumps with Monica walking a mile across his stumps and attempting a pull backward of square. Plays all around it as the ball knocks the top of middle and leg stump to bring the curtains down on this contest. It's been an annihilation of the highest order to get the ball rolling. Mumbai Indians humble Gujarat Giants by 143 runs! Monica Patel b Saika Ishaque 10 (9b, 2x4, 0x6)
Saika Ishaque [3.0-0-11-4] is back into the attack
Five overs to go now in this contest and the required run rate is well beyond the reach for the Gujarat Giants. The end result is in sight.
15
overs
64/8score
1
4
0
0
1
2
runs
Dayalan Hemalatha*
29(23)
Monica Patel
10(8)
Hayley Matthews
0/8
14.6 Hayley Matthews to Dayalan Hemalatha, steps down the track as Matthews goes back of a length on the fifth stump line. Hemalatha crunches a pull over the infield as the fielders converge by the ropes. Long on tidies up with the batters running two
14.5 Hayley Matthews to Monica Patel, sliding into a good length on leg stump. Monica hangs back to nudge it behind square on the leg-side for a quick run
First real blemish for MI in the field.
14.4 Hayley Matthews to Monica Patel, DROPPED! A rare blemish on the field today by the Mumbai Indians. A touch short outside the off stump as Monica rocks back to flat-bat it powerfully. Vastrakar shells it to her right at cover and while it wasn't a sitter, she should have clung onto that
14.3 Hayley Matthews to Monica Patel, arm ball on a back of a length radar on off stump. Monica hangs back and cuts it to backward point, no run
14.2 Hayley Matthews to Monica Patel, FOUR! ANOTHER TOP SHOT! Flighted into a shortened length outside the off stump with Monica shuffling across her stumps. She sits low and powers it with a slog over square leg and picks her spot for a boundary
Monica was nearly past her stumps when the bails were dislodged. Comfortably home in the end.
14.1 Hayley Matthews to Dayalan Hemalatha, slanting into a length on middle stump as Hemalatha hangs back for a nudge to short fine leg. Charges across for a quick run as Monica does well herself. The stumps have been dislodged though and we have a run out referral!
In by some distance and Monica will carry on. NOT OUT!
Hayley Matthews, right-arm off break, comes into the attack
There's a lot to like about Jintimani Kalita. She might be short in stature but she bowls a heavy ball, able to dig it in short with some pace as well. Tidy stuff from her as well, as Mumbai search for that one wicket to wrap up this game.