WPL 2023: Harmanpreet Kaur's Mumbai Indians beat Gujarat Giants by 143 runs in Match 1

Mumbai Indians made an absolute mockery of Gujarat Giants in the opening game of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Mumbai. The team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, won the inaugural game by a mammoth margin of 143 runs.

Mumbai Indians also made history by registering the biggest win in WT20s by a margin of runs. The previous record was held by Wellington Women, who defeated Otago Women by 122 runs back on January 24 in Wellington.

After being put in to bat first, MI racked up a massive score of 207 for the loss of five wickets. Harmanpreet Kaur led from the front by smashing her way to a 22-ball half-century. The captain went on to score 65 runs off 30 balls with 14 fours before Sneh Rana dismissed her.

Prior to that, Hayley Matthews injected momentum into the innings by scoring 47 runs off 31 balls. Amelia Kerr gave the innings the finishing kick with an unbeaten 45 off 24. The 22-year-old was also involved in a partnership of 89 runs



with Harmanpreet.

Issy Wong finished Mumbai’s innings off in style by hitting Sneh Rana for a six down the ground. Rana got two wickets but leaked 43 runs.

The Giants were hit with disaster after Beth Mooney, their skipper, had to retire hurt after she twisted her ankle while running between the wickets.

Thereafter, the Giants were reduced to 23 for seven in 7.4 overs. A lot was expected of Ash Gardner, who played a crucial role in Australia’s win in the Women’s T20 World Cup. But she perished for a golden duck after Issy Wong found her outside edge.

After her stupendous performance with the bat, Kerr bowled a double wicket-maiden in the very first over she bowled. Left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque was impressive after she finished with figures of 3.1-1-11-4.

Dayalan Hemalatha scored 29 runs off 23 balls with one four and two sixes, but her efforts were never going to be enough for the Giants to get close to MI’s score.