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GGTW vs MIW Highlights : Mumbai Indians kicked off their Women's Premier League campaign with a solid five-wicket victory over Gujarat Giants on Tuesday. After a stellar performance by their bowlers, led by Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt's half-century guided Mumbai to chase down Gujarat's target of 121 runs in just 16.1 overs. This marks Mumbai’s fifth consecutive win against Gujarat Giants.
Bowlers Dominate as Gujarat Crumbles
Winning the toss, Mumbai skipper Harmanpreet Kaur opted to field first, and the decision proved to be spot on. Gujarat Giants struggled against Mumbai’s disciplined bowling attack and were bundled out for just 120 runs in their allotted 20 overs.
Hayley Matthews led the charge with a fantastic spell, claiming 3 wickets for just 16 runs. Amelia Kerr (2/22) and Nat Sciver-Brunt (2/26) also played crucial roles in dismantling Gujarat’s batting lineup. Harleen Deol was the only batter who showed some resistance, top-scoring with 32 runs. Keshavi Gautam (20) was the only other player to reach double digits.
Mumbai's bowlers made early inroads, reducing Gujarat to 28/4 inside the powerplay. Nat Sciver-Brunt dismissed Beth Mooney for just 1, while Laura Wolvaardt (4) also departed early. Matthews got rid of Dayalan Hemalatha (9), and Sciver-Brunt struck again to dismiss Ashleigh Gardner (10).
With wickets falling at regular intervals, Gujarat never found their rhythm. Despite a few late boundaries from Keshavi Gautam and Sayali Satgare (13*), Mumbai's bowlers kept things tight, ensuring the total remained well within their grasp.
Nat Sciver-Brunt Leads Mumbai's Chase
Chasing a modest target of 121, Mumbai got off to a steady start, reaching 37/1 in the powerplay. Hayley Matthews started with a boundary off Ashleigh Gardner but fell to Tanuja Kanwar soon after.
Nat Sciver-Brunt walked in and immediately took control of the innings, finding gaps and punishing loose deliveries. She struck 11 boundaries in her fluent knock of 57 runs off just 39 balls. Mumbai lost Yastika Bhatia (8) and Harmanpreet Kaur (4) cheaply, but Sciver-Brunt found support from Amelia Kerr (19), who played a handy knock.
Sciver-Brunt reached her half-century in style, hitting two consecutive fours off Ashleigh Gardner in the 14th over. Though she was dismissed by Priya Mishra (2/40), Mumbai needed just 17 runs in the final five overs. Sajeevan Sajna (10*) and G Kamalini (4*) calmly finished the job, securing Mumbai’s first win of the season.
Key Takeaways from the Match:
- Bowlers Set the Tone: Mumbai’s bowling attack, led by Matthews, was clinical, restricting Gujarat to a below-par total.
- Sciver-Brunt’s All-Round Show: With two wickets and a match-winning half-century, she proved why she’s a key player for Mumbai.
- Gujarat’s Batting Woes: Apart from Harleen Deol and Keshavi Gautam, Gujarat’s batters struggled to build partnerships.
With this dominant win, Mumbai Indians have set a strong foundation for their season, while Gujarat Giants will need to reassess their approach moving forward.
