Indian cricket fans witnessed a special knock on Saturday as Harmanpreet Kaur led the Mumbai Indians to a thrilling win over the Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024. Her unbeaten 95-run blast off just 48 balls was instrumental in securing a crucial seven-wicket victory for the Mumbai Indians and booking their place in the playoffs.
Giants Set a Challenging Total
Gujarat Giants, opting to bat first, posted a competitive total of 190 runs on the board. Openers Beth Mooney and Dayalan Hemalatha provided a solid foundation with their fifties, but it was Mumbai Indians’ bowlers who struck early, with Hayley Matthews dismissing Laura Wolvaardt cheaply.
OTD last year Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur registered the maiden fifty in WPL. She smashed the fifty in just 22 balls 🤌💙 pic.twitter.com/ikbD8rNXUx
— 🙂(Thor Ka Parivar) (@spreadharman7sm) March 4, 2024
Mumbai’s Chase Gets Off to a Steady Start
Mumbai Indians began their chase cautiously, with Yastika Bhatia scoring a well-paced half-century. However, the middle order faltered briefly, leaving the onus on Kaur to steer the chase home.
Harmanpreet Unleashes Her Fury
With Mumbai still needing a significant chunk of runs in the final overs, Kaur took center stage. She displayed her trademark power-hitting, launching bowlers over the ropes with disdain. Her 18th-over assault against Rana, where she plundered 24 runs, swung the momentum decisively in Mumbai’s favor.
A Thrilling Finish
Despite a brief rain interruption and some anxious moments, Kaur held her nerve. A massive six off her blade in the penultimate over sealed the deal for Mumbai, who chased down the target with a ball to spare.
Queen Harmanpreet Kaur supremacy 🐐 pic.twitter.com/qYVFEFyINX
— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) March 10, 2024
Kaur’s Knock Draws Comparisons to 2017 World Cup Heroics
Experts and fans alike hailed Kaur’s knock as one of the best ever witnessed in the WPL. The controlled aggression and ability to finish under pressure evoked memories of her iconic 171-run knock in the 2017 World Cup semi-final.
Mumbai Clinches Top Spot
This win not only propelled Mumbai Indians into the playoffs but also solidified their position at the top of the WPL 2024 points table. With Harmanpreet Kaur in such devastating form, Mumbai will be a force to be reckoned with in the knockout stages.