Mumbai Indians Women. (Photo Source: WPL/ Twitter)
Mumbai Indians are the team to beat in the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League after the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side made it four wins in four with a comprehensive victory against the UP Warriroz. The Mumbai-based franchise have got all their bases covered and have an air of inevitability around them whenever they take the field in the tournament.
They will take on the Gujarat Giants in the 12th match of the tournament, having already beaten them in a one-sided contest in the tournament opener earlier this month. Harmanpreet Kaur will be hoping to continue their winning streak when they play the Gujarat-based outfit at the Brabourne stadium.
Here’s Mumbai Indians predicted XI for the 12th match against Gujarat Giants:
Openers – Yastika Bhatia (wk), Hayley Matthews
After a couple of quiet games for the Mumbai Indians, Yastika Bhatia is delivering on her promise. The young Indian opener was at her fluent best against the UP Warriorz, smashing 42 runs in just 27 deliveries to provide a blistering start for her side in the powerplay. Her 58-run opening stand with Hayley Matthews laid the foundation for a fourth consecutive victory for her side.
While Yastika Bhatia pierced the gaps for fun during the field restrictions, her opening partner Hayley Matthews was reduced to being a mere spectator from the other end. Although she did not make any significant contribution with the bat, she was economical with the ball and also managed the grab the wicket of Sophie Ecclestone.
Middle order – Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (c)
Nat Sciver-Brunt has been at the heart of the Mumbai Indians from matchday 1, and she showed her importance with another crucial contribution against the UP Warriorz. While she managed to stifle the run flow with her economical three-over spell with the ball, the English cricketer stitched together a pivotal stand with the skipper to take her side home.
Mumbai Indians’ skipper is batting like she has a point to prove to the world. Barring a huge slice of luck early in her batting innings, Harmanpreet Kaur didn’t give an inch to the opposition bowlers. The team was in a spot of bother after losing two quick wickets during the chase, but the skipper compiled a brisk 53 off 33 in a sizzling partnership with Nat Sciver to complete a routine victory.
All-rounders – Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Dhara Gujjar
Amelia Kerr didn’t get an opportunity to bat in the game as Harmanpreet Kaur and Nat Sciver-Brunt made an absolute mockery of the target in the end. However, the prodigious all-rounder did make valiant contributions with the ball, scalping the wickets of the dangerous Kiran Navgire and Deepti Sharma.
For a fourth successive game, young Indian all-rounder Amanjot Kaur didn’t get a chance with either the bat or the ball. But the youngster did make a contribution in the field as she was electric while guarding the boundary ropes, keeping the batters on their toes.
Bowlers – Issy Wong, Humaira Kazi, Saika Ishaque, Jintimani Kalita
Issy Wong is slowly becoming an integral part of the Mumbai Indians bowling attack. The 20-year-old pacer from Middlesex was unlucky not a pick a wicket against the UP Warriorz as she was constantly troubling the opposition skipper Alyssa Healy with her line and lengths.
Saika Ishaque has been an absolute revelation in the inaugural edition of the WPL. The left-arm spinner handed her side the first wicket in the match but was taken to the cleaners in the powerplay. However, she showed immense character, bouncing back with the crucial wickets of Alyssa Healy and Tahlia McGrath in her last over to change the complexion of the match.
Jintimani Kalita bowled just over in the match against the UP Warriorz as she was hammered for 13 runs in that over. Harmanpreet Kaur did not take a risk with the inexperienced bowler as Healy and McGrath were going great guns in the middle overs.
Mumbai Indians Women (MI-W):
Hayley Matthews, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Dhara Gujjar, Humaira Kazi, Issy Wong, Jintimani Kalita, Saika Ishaque
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