MI VS GG T20

Right then, the first weekend of the 2024 edition of the Women's T20 League is done and we have witnessed three brilliant games, with the first two being last-ball thrillers. A new week now begins and first up it is a game between Delhi and UP on Monday, 26 February. That game will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT) but you can join us a lot sooner for the build-up. Till then, take care and goodbye!

Amelia Kerr is the Player of the Match for her brilliant all-round showing. Kerr says that when you are bowling later on in the innings, you can either get hit for runs or pick up wickets and just tried a few variations. She then applauds Shabnim Ismail's early spell that kept them on top. On the googly, she says she has tried to develop it a lot, and especially in T20 cricket it can be useful. Adds that with the bat, it was just about playing good cricketing shots and backing herself. Mentions that Mumbai is an amazing franchise to play for and an amazing bunch of talented players, all of whom can step up at any given time.

Harmanpreet Kaur, the skipper of Mumbai says they have a well-balanced side and so many talented all-rounders make it easier for the team. Adds that Shabnim Ismail does well for the side whenever she gets a chance and has received good support from the others. States that with such depth in the bowling lineup, she needs to pick the best ones and they get things done. Concludes that the top order will get a hang of things and come good going ahead in the tournament.

The Presentation ceremony...

Shabnim Ismail now comes up for a quick chat. Shabnim says that she went back to Cape Town and worked with her bowling coach and is happy to have bowled well and to be on the winning side. Adds that she still wants to be the quickest in the world and wants to hit that 130 KPH mark. Mentions that she wants to pick up wickets for her team and is glad to have done well and adds that Hayley Matthews is an old teammate and hence, she likes celebrating with her. Adds that she doesn't put too much pressure on herself and looks to keep things simple and doesn't look at Issy Wong as her competition but as someone who can push her. Ends by saying that she thought the pitch might be quicker in this game but after the first couple of deliveries she realized that variations would prove to be effective on this track.

Beth Mooney, the skipper of Gujarat is down for a chat. She says they let themselves down and credit has to go to Tanuja Kanwar and Kathryn Bryce for getting them to a total to play for. Adds that Kathryn Bryce is a great find who can swing her bat well and bowl well too. States that it is important to get over the defeat and move on to the next one without dwelling a lot on this one and says they look forward to the next game.

Earlier in the game, Harmanpreet Kaur won her second toss in a row and opted to bowl first yet again. Speedster Shabnim Ismail backed up her captain's decision to bowl first by scalping a couple of quick wickets and from there on, Mumbai controlled the game well. All of the bowlers were able to pile on the pressure and they got wickets at regular intervals as well. Ismail got three wickets and it was Amelia Kerr who went under the radar a bit but did pick up four wickets. A couple of handy 20s down the order from Kathryn Bryce and Tanuja Kanwar took Gujarat over the 120-run mark but it was always going to be very difficult total to defend.

Gujarat played well in patches in this game but will be gutted with a few of the batters and the fielding efforts. Their bowlers were up against it defending a low total but Kathryn Bryce and Tanuja Kanwar picked up a wicket each in their first overs and then a run out gave Gujarat a ray of hope. They failed to control the middle phase of the chase and allowed Kaur and Kerr to just rotate strike and the ground fielding was a bit sloppy too. Kanwar bowled brilliantly and got one more wicket towards the end but by then, it was a bit too late to conjure up a comeback.

Two wins out of two for Mumbai and the reigning champions have shown their prowess yet again and once again, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has led from the front and gets her side over the line this time around, something which she couldn't do in the last game. With just 127 runs needed for the win, Mumbai got 19 runs in the first two overs which was a fast start but lost both their openers quickly and then Natalie Sciver-Brunt also fell trying to play aggressive cricket. It was then a valuable stand between Harmanpreet Kaur and Amelia Kerr worth 66 runs that saw Mumbai get ahead in the game. Kerr fell and Mumbai lost one more wicket but the skipper put away a couple of boundaries and made sure there was no late hiccup and even went on to become the all-time leading run scorer in the tournament surpassing Meg Lanning.

SIX! That's it! The skipper Harmanpreet Kaur finishes things off in some style. Mumbai win two in a row and continue their streak against Gujarat. Rana floats this one outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur gets closer and clears the front leg to slog sweep it up and over mid-wicket for a biggie. MUMBAI WIN BY 5 WICKETS!

Three dots to end the over. Tossed up outside off, Amanjot Kaur fails to sweep it as the ball zips through to the keeper.

Fuller outside off, Amanjot Kaur cuts it to point.

Darts this one fuller outside off, Amanjot Kaur looks to sweep but gets beaten.

Floats it up on off, Harmanpreet Kaur gets down the track and look to heave it over leg but misces it to deep mid-wicket for just a single.

Tossed up on off, Harmanpreet Kaur tucks it to mid-wicket.

FOUR! Cheeky! Gardner bowls this on a good length outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur opens the bat face slightly cutting the ball inches away from the keepers gloves for a boundary towards third man fence.