• Mumbai Indians defeated Gujarat Giants in the opening game of WPL 2023.

  • MI skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was named Player of the Match.

WPL 2023 [Twitter reactions]: Mumbai Indians thrash Gujarat Giants in the tournament opener
Mumbai Indians beat Gujarat Giants in WPL opener (Image Source: @WPLT20)

In the opening match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023, Mumbai Indians (MI) got off to a perfect start with their dominating win over Gujarat Giants (GG) at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on Saturday.

Put to bat first, Mumbai captain Harmanpreet Kaur led the team from the front, smacking a brilliant half-century to help her side post an imposing total on the board. Harman took Gujarat bowlers to the cleaners and scored 65 runs from just 30 deliveries with the help of 14 boundaries.

Apart from the MI skipper, opener Hayley Matthews and all-rounder Amelia Kerr chipped in with valuable contributions as Mumbai posted a massive 207/5 on the board in their assigned 20 overs. Matthews smashed 47 off 31 balls, including 3 fours and 4 sixes. Similarly, Kerr played an unbeaten knock of 45 from 24 deliveries, laced up with 6 fours and a maximum.

In response, the Gujarat batting unit fell like a pack of cards, with only two batters scoring in double digits as the team got bundled out for a mere 64, losing the contest by an enormous margin of 143 runs. Dayalan Hemalatha, with an unbeaten 29 and Monica Patel, with 10, were the only players to score in double digits.

Saika Ishaque shined with the ball for Mumbai, taking a four-wicket haul while conceding only 11 runs in 3.1 overs, including a maiden. Nat Sciver-Brunt (2/5) and Kerr (2/12) also bagged a couple of wickets each.

“I think it was a brilliant start, it felt like a dream come true. First day and whatever we did it worked well for us. We kept things clear. It is a big day for women’s cricket and we talked about expressing ourselves. I watched the ball nicely and backed myself. Whatever came my way, I backed myself and it went my way,” said Harman after the match.

Here is how Twitter reacted:

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CATEGORY: Mumbai Indians Twitter WPL

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AKSHAT GAUR
Akshat is the Sr. Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, Akshat has honed his skills over 6 years, working with various media outlets, publications, and organizations to deliver high-quality content that informs, educates, and entertains audiences. He is just another cricket fan who’s grown up watching the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Cricket runs in his veins. Cover drive is his favorite sight, and a ball meeting the middle of the bat is his favorite sound. You can write to him at akshat.gaur@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter, Facebook & Linkedin.