WPL 2023: Mumbai Indians create history by becoming the first-ever team to qualify for playoffs

Delight fills the Mumbai Indians camp as the franchise creates history be breaching into the playoffs. Mumbai sit at the top of the table with 5 wins in 5 games and an NRR of 3.325. If Mumbai continue to be at the top of the table when the league stage ends, the team will get direct entry into the finale of the tournament. 

Mumbai defeat Gujarat Giants to enter the playoffs

Earlier, Mumbai Indians completed a comfortable victory over the Gujarat Giants by 55 runs. Winning the toss, Gujarat invited Mumbai to bat first on a pitch that was difficult to bat on. Despite losing their MVP of the season Hayley Matthews in the first over, Mumbai did not falter. 

Yastika Bhatia and Nat Sciver-Brunt continued playing strokes and built up a partnership of 74 runs just inside 11 overs before Brunt was removed by Kim Garth. Bhatia was also quick to follow. However, Mumbai skipper Harmanpreet Kaur had some different plans. 

Harmanpreet’s quickfire 51 off 30 balls and a partnership of 51 runs with Amelia Kerr for the 4th wicket helped stabilize the Indians’ batting. However, quick wickets toward the end stopped Mumbai from a gigantic score but 162 seemed like an above-par score on this turf.   

In response, the Giants seemed shaky right from the start and never looked in control of the game whatsoever. None of the Gujarat batters looked confident and the team managed to score just 107 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in response to Mumbai’s 162. Harleen Deol was the top scorer for the Giants with 22 runs from 23 balls. 

Seven batters for the Giants failed to make it into the double figures even and only Skipper Sneh Rana had a strike rate of more than 100. Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt shined with the ball for Mumbai picking 3 wickets each. Mumbai’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur was awarded the ‘Player of the Match’ for her brilliant innings. 

Gujarat’s woes continue

This is the fourth defeat for Gujarat in five games and the team is currently at the 4th spot in the points table, only above the Royal Challengers Bangalore who have 5 defeats in as many games. Ever since the team lost their skipper Beth Mooney in the first game, it has been very hard for them to make a comeback. 

In order to stand a chance for playoffs qualification, Gujarat Giants need to pull off a miracle of a performance in their remaining 3 games. They need to reevaluate their tactics and come back stronger for the rest of the tournament. 

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Delight fills the Mumbai Indians camp as the franchise creates history be breaching into the playoffs. Mumbai sit at the top of the table with 5 wins in 5 games and an NRR of 3.325. If Mumbai continue to be at the top of the table when the league stage ends, the team will get direct entry into the finale of the tournament. 

Mumbai defeat Gujarat Giants to enter the playoffs

Earlier, Mumbai Indians completed a comfortable victory over the Gujarat Giants by 55 runs. Winning the toss, Gujarat invited Mumbai to bat first on a pitch that was difficult to bat on. Despite losing their MVP of the season Hayley Matthews in the first over, Mumbai did not falter. 

Yastika Bhatia and Nat Sciver-Brunt continued playing strokes and built up a partnership of 74 runs just inside 11 overs before Brunt was removed by Kim Garth. Bhatia was also quick to follow. However, Mumbai skipper Harmanpreet Kaur had some different plans. 

Harmanpreet’s quickfire 51 off 30 balls and a partnership of 51 runs with Amelia Kerr for the 4th wicket helped stabilize the Indians’ batting. However, quick wickets toward the end stopped Mumbai from a gigantic score but 162 seemed like an above-par score on this turf.   

In response, the Giants seemed shaky right from the start and never looked in control of the game whatsoever. None of the Gujarat batters looked confident and the team managed to score just 107 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in response to Mumbai’s 162. Harleen Deol was the top scorer for the Giants with 22 runs from 23 balls. 

Seven batters for the Giants failed to make it into the double figures even and only Skipper Sneh Rana had a strike rate of more than 100. Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt shined with the ball for Mumbai picking 3 wickets each. Mumbai’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur was awarded the ‘Player of the Match’ for her brilliant innings. 

Gujarat’s woes continue

This is the fourth defeat for Gujarat in five games and the team is currently at the 4th spot in the points table, only above the Royal Challengers Bangalore who have 5 defeats in as many games. Ever since the team lost their skipper Beth Mooney in the first game, it has been very hard for them to make a comeback. 

In order to stand a chance for playoffs qualification, Gujarat Giants need to pull off a miracle of a performance in their remaining 3 games. They need to reevaluate their tactics and come back stronger for the rest of the tournament. 

Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram