MI-W vs GG-W

11:20 PM local time and IST: So, Mumbai Indians move up to 2nd in the table, with 4 points. Gujarat Giants remain on 4 points and slip down to 3rd. But, there is a lot of cricket remaining to be played in the tournament! So, the action shifts to Match 7 now, as Delhi Capitals and UP Warriorz go up against each other. The winner will register their first points on the board! The first ball is to be bowled tomorrow, at 7:30 PM local time. So this is the pair of Pradeep and Bidipto taking your leave. Keep following Sportskeeda! 

Harmanpreet Kaur [Mumbai Indians captain, new owner of the Orange Cap and Player of the Match, 71* runs off 43 balls]: "It was a good game. While bowling, we gave too many runs away. But batting-wise, we calculated things well. Amanjot's calculated extremely well and then Nicola (Carey) came in to ease the pressure off me! In a tournament like this, everyday you have to score 200 runs batting first. Or, we have to chase decent totals. So, the preparation for that has to be there. For me, every match is important, against any opponent. It's also good to see newcomers and young players stepping up!" 

Nicola Carey [Mumbai Indians]: "(On batting alongside Harmanpreet and the top-order platform) My job is pretty easy when I get to walk in after what Harmanpreet was doing out there. She, Hayley, and the rest of the top order got us off to a flyer, so that makes life much simpler. When you’ve got Harman at the other end, just slotting them over cover for fun, it’s hard not to enjoy yourself. It’s been a lot of fun so far. (On preparation, decision-making, and sticking to a plan) There’s definitely some preparation that goes into it. In any game, you want to go out there and play to your strengths, and that’s what I’m trying to do. It doesn’t always come off — I swung and missed a few times today — and that’s just part of the game. You have to stick with your plans and trust that it will eventually click. Today, things came off for us, and it was a really good team performance. (On approaching the chase and applying pressure) When we walked out, we still needed around 10 or 11 an over, which is a pretty steep run rate. But on these grounds, you can score quickly — small boundaries, fast outfields, and good wickets all help. We wanted to put the pressure back on the bowlers early and force them to change their plans. Thankfully, it worked for us today. (On her place in the side and the team environment) We’ve got some outstanding overseas players in this squad, so competition for spots is always high. I’m just really happy to contribute when I get the opportunity and hopefully keep putting my hand up for selection. Thanks very much."

Ashleigh Gardner [Gujarat Giants captain]: "(On fielding and fine margins in the match) We did have our moments. It’s a cliché, but catches really do win matches. What we took a lot of pride in during the first two games was our fielding, and tonight you simply can’t afford to give chances to some of the best players in the world. Unfortunately for us, all three games have been really tight, and this time we’ve ended up on the losing side, which is disappointing. (On not bowling more as captain) If you look at the numbers, I probably don’t match up overly well against Harman — she’s had the better of me over my international career. As a captain, you can sometimes have a tendency to underutilise yourself. We have about eight bowling options, and at the time I felt there were better match-ups than me. With hindsight — which is always wonderful — maybe I was the better option. But I’m saying that after a loss. Had we won, those decisions would probably be seen very differently. I could have bowled more overs, but I genuinely felt I wasn’t the right match-up at that moment. (On the batting finish and reaching 193) One of the biggest strengths of our side is the amount of firepower we have in the middle order. We’ve seen what Wareham has been able to do in domestic cricket in Australia — she really builds her innings and then clears the boundary at the back end. And we all know what Bharati is capable of as well. It’s really pleasing to see them finish off an innings like that. I genuinely felt 193 was a winning total, but as I said earlier, when you don’t take your chances in the field, you end up paying for it. (On the decision to retire out Soni) Straight after the innings, I went up to her and told her that it was a team decision. She nodded — I’m sure she’s extremely disappointed. At that stage, we felt we needed to find the boundary more regularly. Bharati was hitting sixes, and we wanted someone who could run hard between the wickets and also clear the ropes at the end. It’s obviously tough for her — it was her first WPL game, and there would have been nerves. But she put the team first. I thought we finished the innings really well; it just wasn’t our night. (On positives despite the loss) It’s a tough one to take, but there are still plenty of positives. We played some really good cricket, and it’s only our first defeat. I’m confident we’ll turn things around in the next game."

11:00 PM local time and IST: Mumbai Indians win by 7 wickets with 4 balls to spare! 

Harmanpreet Kaur 71* (43) | Shabnim Ismail - 1/25 (4)
Georgia Wareham 43* (33) | Kashvee Gautam - 1/33 (4)

Defending champions for a reason! A top-class team for a reason too! Mumbai Indians didn't have things going their way for most parts of this match, but when it came to the business end, they got the job done!

193 was to be the highest run chase for MI. Gujarat Giants had things in their own hands, after the kind of start they had to the 2nd innings. But, the responsibility shown by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, and two crucial innings, first by Amanjot Kaur and then, Nicola Carey, changed the course of the match!

MI didn't have the services of Natalie Sciver-Brunt. So, the rest of the batting unit had to step up in her place. And boy didn't they!

Hayley Matthews could not quite get it going after a start. Gunalan Kamalini got another low score. But the decisions to send Amanjot Kaur out to bat at no. 3, and Nicola Carey at no. 5, with Amelia Kerr waiting in the wings, worked wonders for Harmanpreet Kaur, who was the fulcrum!

The MI captain took her time, but never looked out of order. She ensured that the asking rate was always getting reached that bit better. Yes, she did offer some chances, that weren't converted by the GG fielders, but, the pacing of the chase, the timing of the kick-on, were right on cue!

GG, after having control over the innings for a long time, lost the plot in the second half of the innings and let things slip. In the end, the experience of Harmanpreet and Carey was just too much for GG on this surface!

So, MI have now registered 8 wins in a row against GG in the WPL! 

19.2 Sophie Devine to Harmanpreet Kaur, FOUR! EMPHATIC WIN FOR MUMBAI INDIANS! Harmanpreet Kaur fittingly hits the winning runs, Mumbai Indians do it with ease here, and make eight out of eight against GG in WPL. Back of a length on middle and leg, Harman flicked it to deep mid-wicket, runs away to the ropes and seals the deal.

Sophie Devine [3.0-0-24-1] comes back into the attack.

Ayushi Soni drops Harmanpreet Kaur twice now! But, this is the more costly one. But, it is still not over for GG. They must believe. 

18.6 Kashvee Gautam to Harmanpreet Kaur, DROPPED AGAIN! GG drops Harman for the third night and she's making them pay all night. Length delivery in the channel, Harman launches it straight up into the night sky. Fielder running to her right from covers, then misjudges it completely to shell another catch.