Harmanpreet Kaur masterclass seals second-highest chase in WPL

Harmanpreet Kaur helped Mumbai Indians improve their head-to-head record to 8-0 by taking advantage of the erratic fielding of the Gujarat Giants. Giants, who had put up impressive batting performances during the tournament, put up 192/5 and appeared to be leading the game at times in the second half. However, they gave the opposing skipper multiple reprieves, who made them pay and ultimately led MI to their highest run chase ever in WPL history. Giants once more delivered with the willow when asked to bat first, this time without relying on Sophie Devine or any other individual contribution. In the very first over, MI suffered a setback when their goalkeeper G Kamalini missed a mandatory catch to grant Beth Mooney a chance at redemption. In the subsequent over, the Australian made it count by scoring a few boundaries, which were followed by two more from Devine's bat. However, when the "keeper made amends with a fine catch to get rid of the big fish Devine, Shabnim Ismail's disappointment in the first over turned into ecstasy in the second. After that, Kanika Ahuja came out ferociously and raced to 15 off of 6, and Mooney successfully concluded the powerplay. Amelia Kerr gave MI a much-needed break after the timeout by taking out Mooney, but runs continued to flow. Almost every GG batter got off to a strong start, contributed significantly, and then left the game without scoring a significant run, which appeared to be the pattern throughout the innings. Nicola Carey ended Ashleigh Gardner's brief appearance, and Hayley Matthews, who came in for the ill Nat Sciver-Brunt, sent Ahuja back in the very next over. Ayushi Soni struggled to get going as Georgia Wareham kept the scoreboard ticking. Soni was brought in to replace the injured Anushka Sharma and became the first batter in the WPL to be retired after managing only 11 runs out of 14 innings as the Giants desperately sought a big finish. Bharti Fulmali, who went crazy in the final two overs, provided them with that. After defeating Carey with a few fours and a six, Fulmali gave the Giants all the momentum in the final over by smashing two sixes off the final three deliveries and causing havoc on Amanjot Kaur. In response, at the conclusion of the powerplay, the Giants pushed ahead once more. G Kamalini's drive attempt against Renuka Singh Thakur was unsuccessful, and she ended up out of her crease and stumped. Matthews, who had shown early promise, got a top edge and left for a 12-ball 22. MI were 48/2 at the end of the powerplay, and their hopes rested once more on captain Harmanpreet. After the timeout, the skipper engaged Wareham once more and pulled her to the midwicket fence for her first boundary of the evening. However, as soon as Amanjot took center stage, Harmanpreet took a back seat. In subsequent overs, she hit boundaries consecutively, and when Renuka returned to the attack, the duo also took her out to force a shift in momentum. Harmanpreet smashed Gardner for her second six of the innings, forcing additional bowling changes, and Devine finally broke the stand when Amanjot failed to clear the fielder at long on. Although Harmanpreet maintained his momentum and scored a half-century, Renuka's over completely altered the course of the match. Carey, unable to control spin, hit Renuka for four boundaries in an over. One more delivery brushed her pads before racing to the ropes, resulting in the batting side scoring 20 runs in six deliveries. When Fulmali failed to seize a chance presented by Harmanpreet, giants did not help their cause. In order to bring her team closer, the captain hit two more fours in the same over, adding insult to injury. Another opportunity was lost in the penultimate over, much to the dismay of the bowling team, but Harmanpreet ended their misery with four balls remaining.