Mumbai Indians hope to end Gujarat Giants’ winning spree
Having made their best-ever start to a season, Gujarat Giants would back themselves to get past defending champions Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) here on Tuesday. Giants have plenty of firepower in their batting and that was on full display in their first two games which they won after posting scores in excess of 200. The win over Delhi Capitals on Sunday night is bound to boost their confidence as Sophie Devine was able to defend seven runs in the final on a batting beauty after smashing 95 off 42 balls at the top of the order.
Captain Ashleigh Gardner has led from the front and by her own admission she could not have asked for a better beginning to the fourth season of WPL. “I felt like we stole that game (against DC) but I think they’re the games that I guess give a lot of confidence into the change room and a lot of belief that we can kind of win from any position,” said Gardner after the last over thriller against DC. Gujarat Giants would, however, look to be more ruthless in their approach having left a few runs out in the middle against Delhi Capitals.
The performance of the Indian players like veteran Rajseshwari Gayakwad and Kashvee Gautam has also pleased Gardner. Their opponents on Tuesday, Mumbai Indians, would be looking to build on the momentum gained in their win over Delhi Capitals. Their biggest match winner Nat Sciver-Brunt is in ominous touch while skipper Harmanpreet Kaur too came to the party against Delhi Capitals with a 42-ball 74.
“I’m really enjoying my batting, and for that I give a lot of credit to my Indian team - and now this team as well. We have long batting line-ups, which gives me the freedom to go out and express myself. I’m not worried about batting deep or holding back, and that’s probably why I’m enjoying myself so much,” said Harmanpreet on her mindset.
Squads:
Gujarat Giants: Ashleigh Gardner (c), Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, Renuka Singh Thakur, Bharti Fulmali, Titas Sadhu, Kashee Gautam, Kanika Ahuja, Tanuja Kanwer, Georgia Wareham, Anushka Sharma, Happy Kumari, Kim Garth, Yastika Bhatia, Shivani Singh, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Ayushi Soni.
Mumbai Indians: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews, Amanjot Kaur, G. Kamalini, Amelia Kerr, Shabnim Ismail, Sanskriti Gupta, Sajana Sajeevan, Rahila Firdous, Nicola Carey, Poonam Khemnar, Triveni Vasistha, Nalla Reddy, Saika Ishaque, Milly Illingworth.
