Harmanpreet Kaur’s Mumbai Indians started off the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023 tournament with a massive win over Beth Mooney’s Gujarat Giants by a margin of 143 runs!
At the DY Patil Stadium, the historic day belonged to the Mumbai Indians who had assembled a terrific band of experienced, high-quality international players and talented local players. They provided a memorable start to the WPL 2023.
Mooney won the toss and elected to field first. GG also got one early wicket, in the form of MI opener Yastika Bhatia. But after that it all was MI who dominated the evening. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur ran the show with the bat, creaming 14 boundaries in her innings of 65 runs in 30 balls.
WPL 2023: Gujarat Giants lost by 143 runs
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 as MI climbed to the total of 207/5.
GG’s hopes of getting anywhere close to MI’s total laid on the captain Beth Mooney, who had been in terrific form in the recent T20 WC. However, in the first over the chase, Mooney twisted her ankle and was in great pain; she couldn’t even walk properly and had to be shouldered off the field with the support of two people.
That seemed that for GG, and it was, as they lost one wicket after another. It felt that every over could yield a wicket for MI. Gujarat slipped to 23/7 at one point, which was effeictively 23/8 with Mooney retired hurt. Eventually they were bowled out for 64. Uncapped left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque took 4 wickets while leg-spinner Amelia Kerr took 2 wickets and so did Nat Sciver-Brunt.
Memes galore on Twitter as Gujarat Giants suffered this massive defeat by the hands of Mumbai Indians.
Here are some of the best memes from Gujarat Giants embarrasing loss in WPL 2023 opener:
Muffa while tweeting this be like 😸😅 pic.twitter.com/i2v55iLBuL
— Rakshit Shah – DUNKI (FAN ACCOUNT) (@rshah2611) March 4, 2023
Naughty mufa pic.twitter.com/YvqLdyHbFD
— non sync (@nonn_syncc) March 4, 2023
Rcb fans ka dil toot Gaya 💔
— Faiz Fazel (@theFaizFazel) March 4, 2023
Harmanpreet Kaur beats Gujarat Giants by 1 run
— soo washed (@anubhav__tweets) March 4, 2023
Our Senior officials with Gujarat Giants and rest is history 😍🔥 #WPL pic.twitter.com/HyWH588WzY
— TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) March 4, 2023
Mithali to Gujarat Giants Batters in the dugout:#MIvsGG #WPL2023 #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/XfVbDn3QpQ
— Akash (@Akashkumarjha14) March 4, 2023
Gujarat Giants?
More like Gujarat Lilliputs, amirite?— El Chopernos (@El_Chopernos) March 4, 2023
https://twitter.com/12th_khiladi/status/1632060002767876096?s=20
Harmanpreet Kaur – 65 runs
Entire Gujarat team – 64 runsKaur won by 1 run 😅
— All About Cricket (@allaboutcric_) March 4, 2023
If Gujarat Giants are the RCB from the 1st game of IPL, that means they are never going to win the trophy.
— Manya (@CSKian716) March 4, 2023
Gujarat Giants fans watching the run-chase 👀#MIvGG #WPL2023 #MIvsGG pic.twitter.com/HZx0jaYMYT
— Cricket.com (@weRcricket) March 4, 2023
Mumbai Indians love playing football, be it against CSK or Gujarat Giants. ✌🏼 pic.twitter.com/A8aP4tMcQE
— Vishal. (@SPORTYVISHAL) March 4, 2023
Hardik Pandya after gujarat women team lost the match by 143 runs pic.twitter.com/0oYICvCnDF
— Desi Bhayo (@desi_bhayo88) March 4, 2023
Gujarat Giants crosses 49
RCB fans :- pic.twitter.com/r6SgIis1GB— Vaibhav Hatwal ◟̽◞̽ 🤧 (@vaibhav_hatwal) March 4, 2023
Sneh Rana | Stand-in captain, Gujarat Giants – It’s just the start, some of the players soak it up early, some will take time (on players getting ready at this level). A learning curve for us and we’ll come back strongly. The physio will be better placed to explain (on Mooney’s injury). I want to stand-up for whatever the team needs, if I do get captaincy, we’ll try and execute our plans better. This was just the first match, we need to keep our heads high, we have players who have done well at the domestic level and we’ll certainly look to comeback stronger tomorrow.
If Beth Mooney is unfit for tomorrow, which is likely to be, then Sneh Rana will lead the side against UP Warriorz in their second match.
