WPL 2024, Match 3 Review: Amelia Kerr, Shabnim Ismail blow Gujarat Giants away in Bengaluru

The Women's Premier League 2024 saw the third match featuring Mumbai Indians against Gujarat Giants at Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The Mumbai Indians won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Batting first, Gujarat Giants faced an uphill battle, managing only 126-9 in their 20 overs. Captain Mooney's 24 runs was the highlight, as the top order struggled to make an impact. The late efforts from Kathryn Bryce and Tanuja Kanwar, scoring 25 and 28 runs, respectively, provided a much-needed boost to the Giants' total.

Mumbai's bowlers, led by the impressive duo of Amelia Kerr and Shabnim Ismail, dominated the proceedings. Kerr claimed four wickets in her four-over spell, while Ismail took three, restricting the Giants' batting lineup.

Chasing the target, Mumbai Indians encountered early setbacks with openers Yastika Bhatia and Hayley Matthews departing quickly as they both were dismissed after scoring just seven runs each. However, the experienced duo of Harmanpreet Kaur and Nat Sciver-Brunt took charge, steering the team towards victory.

Also Read: WPL Winners List from 2023 to 2024

Despite the loss of Sciver-Brunt, the dynamic Amelia Kerr joined forces with Kaur to secure Mumbai's second win of the tournament. Kaur's unbeaten 46 in 41 balls with five fours and one six and Kerr's 31* ensured a comfortable five-wicket victory for the Mumbai Indians.

For Gujarat Giants, Tanuja Kanwar was the standout bowler as she took two wickets, dismissing Matthews and Pooja Vastrakar. Kathryn Bryce and Lea Tahuhu also claimed one wicket each, but unfortunately, it wasn't sufficient for them to avoid a loss in their inaugural game of the tournament. 

Looking ahead, Royal Challengers Bangalore are set to clash with Gujarat Giants on February 27th, while Mumbai Indians will face UP Warriorz on February 28th, both matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. As the cricketing fraternity eagerly anticipates these upcoming battles, the Women's Premier League continues to deliver thrilling cricketing action.