Mumbai Indians women captain Harmanpreet Kaur bludgeoned 65 runs in just 30 balls in the first-ever match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Kaur’s knock helped MI record a massive total of 207/5, chasing which the Gujarat Giants women were of no match and were bowled out for only 64, conceding a gigantic loss of 143 runs in the WPL 2023 opener.
The right-hander’s blitzkrieg was also special because it was laced with only fours – and 14 of them! – and not a single six, making it for really eye-catching viewing as she provided a delightful knock filled with pure timing and immaculate placement.
During her scintillating knock, Harmanpreet Kaur emulated Chris Gayle’s feat of sending 7 the ball to/over the boundary 7 consecutive times.
Kaur smashed Monica Patel for four boundaries in a row on the last 4 balls of the 15th over, and then hit Ash Gardner for three consecutive fours in the next over when she got the strike, making it 7 fours in a row in the 7 balls she faced.
Fans recalled Gayle’s feat after Harmanpreet Kaur hit 7 fours in a row
Just liked how Harmanpreet hit 7 consecutive boundaries today, Gayle did it as well in 2011 against Prasanth Parameswaran of Kochi Tuskers Kerala.
Only difference is, Gayle hit 4 sixes & 3 fours in an over, while Harmanpreet hit 7 fours across two overs.
— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) March 4, 2023
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur madness! pic.twitter.com/lEiTXFlMaJ
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 4, 2023
https://twitter.com/DerekAB2/status/1632044128052604932?s=20
However, Gayle had hit four sixes and three boundaries to Kochi Tuskers Kerala’s Prasanth Parameswaran in IPL 2011. Suresh Raina had done the same during the 2014 IPL against Punjab Kings, whacking two sixes and five fours in an over to Parvinder Awana.
Felt like a dream come true: Harmanpreet Kaur
Apart from Kaur other MI players played their part: Hayley Matthews smashed 47 (31), Nat Sciver-Brunt scored 23 (18), and Amelia Kerr walloped 45 (24) before Pooja Vastrakar (15 off 8) and Issy Wong (6 off 1) gave the finishing touches. Uncapped left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque took 4 wickets while leg-spinner Amelia Kerr took 2 wickets and so did Nat Sciver-Brunt.
Speaking of the “dream” start to the WPL tournament, Harmanpreet Kaur was elated to make it a blockbuster onset of the WPL 2023.
“I think it was a brilliant start, it felt like a dream come true. First day and whatever we did it worked well for us. We kept things simpe and clear. Told players to play natural. It is a big day for women’s cricket and we talked about expressing ourselves. I watched the ball nicely and backed myself. Whatever came my way, I backed myself and it went my way,” Kaur said in the press conference.
“When we were batting, we knew it is a very good batting wicket. When the other team was bowling in the right spot, it was not easy to play. So told our bowlers it will not be easy if you bowl in the right spot. And I am happy that every bowler bowled well. It’s a big day and a big victory for us and the way we started, we are really happy.”
