Matthews and Sciver-Brunt lead the charge as MI storms into WPL final

Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt showcase masterful ball-striking as Mumbai Indians defeat Gujarat Giants in WPL Eliminator.

When Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt are in the mood for classy ball-striking, there’s seemingly little that opponents can do beyond watching and quietly admiring sheer mastery unfold in front of their eyes. Gujarat Giants was largely left to do just that in the Eliminator of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) at Brabourne Stadium on Thursday.

Matthews and Sciver-Brunt smashed 77 each to help MI reach 213 for four – its highest WPL total. For the second time this season, in fact, they forged a 133-run second-wicket partnership. Harmanpreet Kaur also played her part with a cameo of 36 at a strike rate of 300. With GG skittled out for 166, MI advanced to Saturday’s final against Delhi Capitals.

It didn’t look like MI would get to such a daunting total when it was 37 for one in six overs. Matthews was sedate at the start, and even had a slice of fortune on five when an edge was spilled by Beth Mooney in Ashleigh Gardner’s opening over. It was the first of many catches that GG dropped on the night.

Once the field spread out, Sciver-Brunt and Matthews began belting a plethora of boundaries. Matthews found her fluency against Priya Mishra, welcoming the leg-spinner in the eighth over with three consecutive fours. It helped that Priya dished out a rank long-hop and a juicy full toss.

Having ambled to 17 off 22 deliveries after the first seven overs, Matthews still reached her fifty off just 36 deliveries. The landmark was achieved with oomph, pulling Tanuja Kanwer for a maximum.

Sciver-Brunt was at her belligerent best at the other end. Her half-century, off 29 balls, came via a flat-batted six over deep midwicket. It also brought up the 100-run stand.

For GG to hunt down the target, it needed its in-form batters to not put a foot wrong. That wasn’t the case. Mooney drove Shabnim Ismail to slip in the very first over while Harleen Deol was run out in the fifth over. Gardner did smoke Matthews out of the park off her second ball, but was cleaned up by the offie in the same over.