Matthews and Sciver-Brunt lead the cost as MI storms into WPL closing

Hayley Matthews performs a shot.
| Picture Credit score: EMMANUAL YOGINI

When Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt are within the temper for stylish ball-striking, there’s seemingly little that opponents can do past watching and quietly admiring sheer mastery unfold in entrance of their eyes. Gujarat Giants was largely left to do exactly that within the Eliminator of the Girls’s Premier League (WPL) at Brabourne Stadium on Thursday.

Matthews and Sciver-Brunt smashed 77 every to assist MI attain 213 for 4 – its highest WPL complete. For the second time this season, in truth, they cast a 133-run second-wicket partnership. Harmanpreet Kaur additionally performed her half with a cameo of 36 at a strike price of 300. With GG skittled out for 166, MI superior to Saturday’s closing in opposition to Delhi Capitals.

It didn’t appear like MI would get to such a frightening complete when it was 37 for one in six overs. Matthews was sedate at the beginning, and even had a slice of fortune on 5 when an edge was spilled by Beth Mooney in Ashleigh Gardner’s opening over. It was the primary of many catches that GG dropped on the evening.

As soon as the sector unfold out, Sciver-Brunt and Matthews started belting a plethora of boundaries. Matthews discovered her fluency in opposition to Priya Mishra, welcoming the leg-spinner within the eighth over with three consecutive fours. It helped that Priya dished out a rank long-hop and a juicy full toss.

Having ambled to 17 off 22 deliveries after the primary seven overs, Matthews nonetheless reached her fifty off simply 36 deliveries. The landmark was achieved with oomph, pulling Tanuja Kanwer for a most.

Nat Sciver-Brunt in motion.
| Picture Credit score:
EMMANUAL YOGINI

Sciver-Brunt was at her belligerent greatest on the different finish. Her half-century, off 29 balls, got here by way of a flat-batted six over deep midwicket. It additionally introduced up the 100-run stand.

For GG to search out the goal, it wanted its in-form batters to not put a foot flawed. That wasn’t the case. Mooney drove Shabnim Ismail to slide within the very first over whereas Harleen Deol was run out within the fifth over. Gardner did smoke Matthews out of the park off her second ball, however was cleaned up by the offie in the identical over.

The scores: Mumbai Indians 213/4 in 20 overs (Matthews 77, Sciver-Brunt 77, Harmanpreet 36, Danielle Gibson 2/40) bt Gujarat Giants 166 in 19.2 overs (Gibson 34, Phoebe Litchfield 31, Bharti Fulmali 30, Matthews 3/31, Amelia Kerr 2/28).

Toss: GG. PoM: Matthews.

Remaining (Saturday): Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians, 7.3. p.m.