WPL: Clinical MI trounce GG by five wickets

All-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt starred in both departments as Mumbai Indians produced a clinical performance to return to winning ways with a five-wicket victory over a self-destructive Gujarat Giants in their Women’s Premier League match. Sciver-Brunt smashed a 39-ball 57, her second consecutive half-century, after taking two wickets for 26, as MI first bowled out GG for a modest 120 and then chased down the target, scoring 122/5.

Invited to bat, Gujarat paid the price for their over-aggression, with MI’s bowlers, led by off-spinner Hayley Matthews, delivering a tight performance. Shabnim Ismail (1/17), Amelia Kerr (2/22) and Amanjot Kaur (1/17) also played key roles in restricting Gujarat’s batting.

In response, Sciver-Brunt dazzled with a flurry of boundaries, playing cut, pull, sweep and scoop shots with ease. She hit 11 fours during her innings and was dismissed in the 16th over with just seven runs required to win.

Chasing 121, MI lost Matthews (17), Yastika Bhatia (8) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (4) early as MI slipped to 55/3 in the 8th over.

However, Sciver-Brunt continued to dominate, bringing up her fifty with a four in the 14th over. Amelia Kerr (19) also contributed with a six and a four.

Brief scores: Gujarat Giants: 120 all out in 20 overs (Deol 32; Matthews 3/16, Kerr 2/22, Sciver-Brunt 2/26); Mumbai Indians: 122/5 in 16.1 overs (Sciver-Brunt 57; Kashvee 2/15)