In the TAT Women’s Premier League, the Mumbai Indians have won four games in a row, showing they are the best team. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led MI is at the top of the charts with eight points and a net run rate of +3.524. The most recent win came against the UP Warriorz. Alyssa Healy had won the toss and elected to bat first to set a high target.
This seemed feasible briefly when the captain scored 58 and Tahlia McGrath produced another flawless fifty. Saika Ishaque struck the perfect length to change the tide in the sixteenth over. Healy was leg-before-wicket, and the second-highest scorer was caught by Tastika Bhatia. Leaving the crease for a while proved to be awful.
Saika ended her bowling performance with 33 runs in 4 overs at 8.25 economy. Amelia Kerr ensured that the third batter did not get a chance to settle. Fourteen balls were down for 17 runs, and Kerr managed to tempt Kiran Navgire for a long shot. It was ultimately caught by Bhatia, who set a carpet for a walk back to the pavilion.
Hayley Matthews did the same with Sophie Ecclestone, who later returned with a single run on four balls.
UP Warriorz were 140/3 by the end of the 17th over. A competitive score was still in sight; however, the following batters missed a chance to swing for an in-the-air shot multiple times. MI restricted the chasing target to 160 after UPW could add only 19 runs in the last three overs. Power hitters were indeed needed to continue the momentum.
Nonetheless, it is less likely that several bettors at betting sites for cricket doubted the capability of MI to win a match with a clean record until now. Kaur registered her second half-century in just 33 balls by hitting nine fours and one six. Nat Sciver-Brunt remained unbeaten with her to hit the winning run with a six. This came after a no-ball was given to Shabnim Ismail for overstepping, and Brunt powered through a boundary in the free-hit.
She missed her 50 by 7 runs, but MI gained a winning point with 15 balls remaining and eight wickets in hand. Hayley Matthews had to leave the field early, probably under pressure when she tried to hit a shot that directly landed in the hands of Sophie, who had bowled the same delivery. Hayley was down 17 balls with a strike rate of 70.59.
Bhatia compensated by bringing 42 runs to the scoreboard in 27 deliveries. UPW is now ranked third on the table. Their next match is against the Mandhana-led RCB. It could either be a redemption to end the losing streak or a chance to register a third win. MI is to face GG on March 14, 2023, at the same spot.
