After snatching victory from the jaws of defeat in the season opener against the Delhi Capitals, Harmanpreet Kaur's Mumbai Indians will be keen to maintain the winning streak against Gujarat Giants, led by Beth Mooney.
The third match of the 2024 edition of the Women's Premier League at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday, February 25, will start at 7.30 pm (Indian Standard Time).
Defending champion MI did not crumble under pressure and chased down 172 against DC on Friday. Harmanpreet Kaur led the charge with a 34-ball 55 before Sajeevan Sajana hit a six off the last ball.
Kaur's great record against GG
Harmanpreet Kaur was GG's nemesis last season with two match-winning fifties. The Gujarat franchise will be hoping for a reversal of fortunes as Beth Mooney, who pulled out after one game in 2023 due to a calf injury, is back to lead the side. The absence of the Commonwealth Games gold medallist had taken the venom out of the team as they had started the tournament with a 143-run defeat in the hands of MI. They could win only two games under stand-in captain Sneh Rana.
New additions to GG
Mooney has been in red-hot form with three T20I fifties since the start of the year against India and South Africa. The addition of hard-hitter Phoebe Litchfield for Rs 1 crore will further bolster the batting department. The 20-year-old Aussie has a strike rate of 170 in T20Is.
The franchise has also roped in Indian batter Veda Krishnamurthy, who last played international cricket in 2020. GG also has the opportunity to try out all-rounder Kathryn Bryce as the fifth foreigner since she is an Associate player. Indian bowlers Meghna Singh (seam) and Tanuja Kanwar (slow left-arm orthodox) can breathe fire.
MI's spin trinity
MI will expect Hayley Matthews to strike form on top of the order as rest of the batters have got runs in the opening game. The bowling attack centering around spin is formidable. Matthews' off-spin fetched her 16 scalps last season, the most in the tournament. Left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque and leg-break bowler Amelia Kerr complete the spin trinity. Both of them had returned 15 wickets each.
The medium pace of Shabnim Ismail, Pooja Vastrakar and Nat-Sciver Brunt can be challenging to handle.
Squads
Gujarat Giants: Beth Mooney (w/c), Laura Wolvaardt, Harleen Deol, Phoebe Litchfield, Ashleigh Gardner, Veda Krishnamurthy, Dayalan Hemalatha, Sneh Rana, Tanuja Kanwar, Meghna Singh, Mannat Kashyap, Shabnam Md Shakil, Priya Mishra, Trisha Poojitha, Kashvee Gautam, Tarannum Pathan, Kathryn Bryce, Lauren Cheatle.
Mumbai Indians: Hayley Matthews, Yastika Bhatia(w), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Amelia Kerr, Pooja Vastrakar, Amanjot Kaur, S Sajana, Shabnim Ismail, Keerthana Balakrishnan, Saika Ishaque, Chloe Tryon, Fatima Jaffer, Issy Wong, Humaira Kazi, Jintimani Kalita, Priyanka Bala, Amandeep Kaur
Coaches
Charlotte Edwards (MI)
Michael Klinger (GG)
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