Gujarat vs Mumbai, WTL 2023 : Best 5 star performers of Match 1

The Women's T20 League had finally arrived, and players, analysts, and fans from all over the world were ecstatic to celebrate this historic occasion as Mumbai took on Gujarat in the inaugural game.

Saturday's debut Women's Premier League game at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai saw Mumbai defeat Gujarat by a score of 143 runs to begin their campaign and gave us glimpses of the first match of the Indian Premier League. 

1) Harmanpreet Kaur

Harmanpreet Kaur

The player who pleased the Navi Mumbai audience by dominating the match and inspiring many to remember Brendon McCullum's performance in the season opener of the Indian T20 League in 2008 was Harmanpreet Kaur.

Harmanpreet scored seven consecutive boundaries throughout her innings, a remarkable accomplishment that helped her score 65 off just 35 balls. Amelia Kerr helped Mumbai pass the 200-point threshold with a 25-ball 45.

2) Amelia Kerr

Amelia Kerr

Amelia Kerr played the role of anchor and made sure she rotated the strike off almost every ball to make sure the run rate was ticking. She was on-song in her partnership with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and made sure she stayed till the end so that the team reached the 200-run mark in the first match of the Inaugural edition of the Women’s T20 League. She scored a valuable 45 runs off 24 balls which included six boundaries and a six as well. 

3) Saika Ishaque

Saika Ishaque

Making the most of the pressure put on her by the outstanding right-arm seamer Wong from the other side, who left no opportunity for scoring in her first stint, Saika Ishaque dismissed Annabel Sutherland (6) in the fifth over and returned in the seventh over to remove Georgia Wareham (8). (3-0-7-1). Saika, a left-arm orthodox spinner, produced a pretty impressive return with 3.1-1-11-4, demonstrating the range of abilities she brings to the Mumbai Squad.

4) Hayley Matthews

Hayley Matthews (Image source: Twitter)

Matthews was in top form right away as she smacked a six off Mansi Joshi's second delivery and then a four off the very next ball. The energetic West Indies batter Matthews came within three runs of becoming the first player to reach fifty runs in a competition, but he fell short by three runs. Matthews scored 47 runs off 31 balls by hitting 4 sixes and 3 fours, and she and Natalie Sciver-Brunt combined 54 runs for the second wicket.

5) Dayalan Hemalatha

Dayalan Hemalatha

The only batsman who made a valiant effort to remain at the crease and record an unbeaten 29 was Dayalan Hemalatha. She had a lot of talent and appeared strong at the crease, but she eventually ran out of partners. She was one of just two players for the Gujarat franchise to reach double digits.