'Captain ho toh aisi' - Fans react as Harmanpreet Kaur stars in Mumbai's fifth consecutive win in the Women's T20 League

The action returned on Tuesday in the inaugural edition of the Women’s T20 League, with the unbeaten Mumbai facing struggling Gujarat in the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. While Mumbai looked to continue their unbeaten run, they were surprised as Gujarat dropped a decent bowling performance restricting the hard hitter to 162/8 in their 20 overs. Notably, it was Gujarat who won the toss and invited the league leaders to bat first.

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Opener Hayley Matthews went for a duck as Yastika Bhatia, and Nat-Sciver Brunt led a rescue mission for Mumbai. While Bhatia scored 44 off 37, Brunt got 36 off 31 before being dismissed. Finally, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur added 51 off 30 as Mumbai reached a respectable 162/8. For Gujarat, Ashleigh Gardener remained the pick of the bowlers returning with a three-wicket haul in her four overs, conceding 34 runs. Kim Garth, Sneh Rana and Tanuja Kanwar returned with one wicket apiece.

Mumbai became the first team to qualify for the playoffs

In reply, Gujarat started off disastrously as both openers were dismissed cheaply. While Sophia Dunkley went for a golden duck, S Meghana’s struggle on the pitch ended after scoring 16 off 17 deliveries. Gujarat were three down at the score of 34 as Annabel Sutherland also went for a 4-ball duck. Harleen Deol with 22 off 23, skipper Sneh Rana with 20 off 19 and Sushma Verma with 18 off 19 aside; no Gujarat batter could even get a start as they could only manage 107/9 in their 20 overs. Hayley Matthews and Nat-Sciver Brunt returned with three wickets each as Mumbai won by 55 runs becoming the first team to qualify for the playoffs.

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Next, in the Women’s T20 League, the UP franchise will face off against the star-studded Bangalore franchise, who are yet winless in the league’s inaugural season. For Smriti Mandhana’s side, it is do or die; if they fail to win the game on Wednesday, it will be curtains on their season with no mathematical chances left for them to qualify for the playoff of the Women’s T20 League 2023.

Here’s how fans reacted to Mumbai’s fifth consecutive win:

Dear RCB management,

I being an MI fan thank you for not letting MI pick smriti , hence they picked harmanpreet.

— AYUSH (@_2Legit_2Quitt_) March 14, 2023

Buying Rohit sharm and Appointing him as a captain of MI

And buying Harmanpreet kaur over Smriti are the greatest decision by Mumbai indians❤

— Santosh (@SmpPhukan) March 14, 2023

Again Thanks Mumbai for purchasing players not beauties .

— Siva⁴⁵dhfm🐐😎 (@SivaHITMANfan) March 14, 2023

Half bhi nahi hua abhi😭

— Paresh Patil (@parepatil) March 14, 2023

"We want Afridi back in the team as a captain Mkl (India) team was defeated in first match under Afridi captainship"

— indiancriclol (@EvilBhakt) March 14, 2023

5 consecutive wins & 5 consecutive losses, The difference is clear 🔥 pic.twitter.com/6hv7IUpG9R

— aadityaa (@Aditya_M9) March 14, 2023

बाकी टीमों के बीच मुकाबला जारी है। pic.twitter.com/P9jbnxVg40

— the VAIBHAV🇮🇳 (@kaaaatilana) March 14, 2023

5th consecutive win for MI



Meanwhile RCB fans when they see MI fans : pic.twitter.com/g63M6Bzx7B

— ً (@SarcasticCowboy) March 14, 2023