Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur continued her good rich vein of form with the bat by scoring a defiant half century as Mumbai Indians registered their fifth consecutive win by defeating Gujarat Giants by 55 runs at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday.
After being asked to bat by GG skipper, Ashleigh Gardner struck in the very first over by dismissing the in form Hayley Matthews, caught by Sophia Dunkley for a duck.
Yastika Bhatia along with Nat Sciver-Brunt added 74 runs for the second wicket wicket before the latter (36) was trapped leg before wicket by Kim Garth, while attempting a scoop.
Bhatia’s fine innings of 44 ended, when she was run-out following a mix-up with Harmanpreet.
Mumbai lost wickets at the other end, but skipper Kaur scored a struck a 30 ball-51 to take her side to a competitive score of 162/8 in 20 overs. Her innings comprised off 7 fours and 2 sixes.
In response, Gujarat got off to a horror start by losing Sophia Dunkley, leg before wicket by Sciver-Brunt for a golden duck.
The pair of Sabbhineni Meghana and Harleen Deol put on 34 runs for the second wicket before Hayley Matthews struck twice- first by dismissing Meghna and then claiming Annabel Sutherland (0) in the powerplay.
Issy Wong then struck a body blow by dismissing the in form Harleen Deol (22) leg before wicket.
In the end the Gujarat batsman struggled in their chase and ended up with 107/9 in their 20 overs, thereby losing the contest by 55 runs.
With this victory, Mumbai Indians became the first team to qualify for their playoffs.