MUMBAI – Hayley Matthews’ all around brilliance carried the Mumbai Indians Women into the final of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) via a 47-run victory over the Gujarat Giants Women in their Eliminator match at the Brabourne Stadium in India on Thursday.
Matthews blasted 77 from 50 balls and together with Nat Sciver-Brunt, who also scored 77, propeled the Mumbai Indians Women to a competitive 213 for four from their 20 overs,
The West Indies Women’s captain then returned to snag 3-31 as the Giants were dismissed for 166 from 19.2 overs.
The Giants were dealt an untimely blow when star all-rounder Deandra Dottin was ruled out of the match with an injury five minutes before the toss.
They would have been ruing their decision to field first when Matthews and Sciver-Brunt were locked in a 133-run partnership for the second wicket that completely changed the momentum of the game.
Matthews hit 10 fours and three sixes, while Sciver Brunt launched 10 fours and two sixes in their partnership that spanned just 12 overs.
And when Matthews eventually lost her wicket to Danielle Gibson, captain Harmanpreet Kaur belted a boundary-studded 36 from 12 balls with four sixes and two fours to ensure the Mumbai Indians finished strongly.
Gibson took 2-40 from her four overs for the Giants.
The Giants then lost wickets at regular intervals during their chase, as Gibson, who made 34, Phoebe Litchfield (31) and Bharti Fulmani (30), all got starts but failed to push on.
The Mumbai Indians will face the Delhi Capitals in the final on Saturday.
CMC
