Mumbai Indians (MI) have gotten off to a great start in the Women’s Premier League (WPL)’s inaugural season thanks to three key moments in Match 1. In their first match at the DY Patil Stadium on Saturday, they defeated the Gujarat Giants (GG) in a rout.
With a lightning-fast 65, Captain Harmanpreet Kaur set a good example, and other batters like Hayley Matthews and Amelia Kerr helped MI reach a massive total of 207/5 in their 20 overs.
The Giants did not have any momentum in their innings, and they were struck out for just 64 runs. Additionally, their captain Beth Mooney was injured, further jeopardizing the beginning of their WPL 2023 campaign.
In light of this, let’s take a look at three instances that caught people’s attention on social media:
3. Harmanpreet Kaur’s 7 boundaries in a row
With her sensational 65, Harmanpreet Kaur gave WPL 2023 the boost it needed to get off to a good start. Her superb strokeplay lit up the stadium. She scored 14 boundaries in her innings, and the Mumbai Indians skipper’s counterattack left the Giants stunned.
As Harmanpreet and Amelia Kerr continued to score boundaries almost at will, almost no GG bowler was spared. Harmanpreet scored seven boundaries in a row, four of which came off the bowling of Monica Patel, and the other three were scored by Ashleigh Gardner in her over.
As Harmanpreet continued to unleash incredible shots, the bowler’s and fielders’ expressions were sufficient to convey their sense of helplessness.
2. Saika Ishaque’s magical spell
India may have found a gem in left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque’s incredible spell in the WPL 2023, which is expected to uncover some gems from domestic cricket. Amelia Kerr was a good wrist spinner for them, but she also helped out on the other end as Ishaque ran amok.
Ishaque took as many as four wickets and only gave up 11 runs in 3.1 overs. The GG batters fell like a pack of cards and couldn’t fight, so her subtle variations were too much for them. At the toss, Harmanpreet Kaur had praised the spinner, and it appears that she was entirely correct.
1. Harmanpreet Kaur drs call for wide
Over the past few years, the game has seen a number of contentious wide and no-ball calls. In order to prevent any kind of error from the on-field umpires, many believed that the available technology needed to be utilized.
The captains are allowed to challenge a wide and an above-waist-height no-ball call under the WPL rules if they believe the third umpire made the call incorrectly. In the second inning of the game, when Harmanpreet Kaur used this rule for the first time, it worked because Monica Patel, the batter, gloved the ball.
The use of technology allowed for such insignificant calls, which can often have a significant impact on a game’s outcome, to be made, to the delight of fans.