Harmanpreet at the fore as MI make it 8-0 against the Giants

Harmanpreet Kaur capitalised on Gujarat Giants' erratic fielding to help Mumbai Indians extend their perfect head-to-head record to 8-0. Giants, who came into this game on the back of impressive batting displays in the tournament, put up 192/5 and appeared to be ahead of the game at some points in the second half before offering repeated reprieves to the opposition skipper who made them pay and eventually guide MI to their highest run chase ever in WPL history.

Asked to bat first, Giants delivered again with the willow and this time they didn't rely on Sophie Devine or any individual contribution for that matter. MI had a setback in the very first over when their 'keeper G Kamalini dropped a regulation catch to offer Beth Mooney a reprieve. The Australian made it count by fetching a couple of boundaries in the next over which was followed by two more from the bat of Devine. However, Shabnim Ismail's disappointment in the first over turned into ecstasy in her second when the 'keeper made amends with a fine catch to get rid of the big fish Devine. Kanika Ahuja then came out all guns blazing to race to 15 off 6 before Mooney rounded off the powerplay in great fashion.

Following the timeout, Amelia Kerr gave MI a much-needed breakthrough by removing Mooney but the runs continued to flow. In what appeared to be the theme throughout the innings, almost every GG batter got off to a start, made a significant contribution before departing without notching up a big score. Ashleigh Gardner's mini cameo was ended by Nicola Carey and Hayley Matthews, who had come in for the unwell Nat Sciver-Brunt, sent back Ahuja in the very next over.

While Georgia Wareham kept the scorecard ticking, Ayushi Soni struggled to get going, Coming in as a replacement for the injured Anushka Sharma, Soni became the first batter in WPL to be retired out after managing only 11 off 14 as the Giants desperately sought a big finish. And they got that in the form of Bharti Fulmali who went berserk in the final two overs. Taking down Carey for a couple of fours and a six, Fulmali then rattled Amanjot Kaur in the final over by smashing two sixes off the final three deliveries to give Giants all the momentum.

In reply, the Giants once again nudged ahead by the end of the powerplay. G Kamalini failed to connect while attempting a drive against Renuka Singh Thakur and found herself out of her crease to get stumped and Matthews despite showing early promise got a top edge and departed for a 12-ball 22. By the end of the powerplay, MI were 48/2 with hopes resting once again on skipper Harmanpreet.

The skipper pulled Wareham to the midwicket fence for her first boundary of the evening and took on her again after the timeout. However, Harmanpreet took a backseat immediately as Amanjot took centerstage. She hit back-to-back boundaries in successive overs and when Renuka came back into the attack, the duo took her to the cleaners as well to force a shift in momentum. The onslaught forced more bowling changes as Harmanpreet smashed Gardner for her second six of the innings before Devine finally broke the stand when Amanjot failed in her attempt to clear the fielder at long on.

Harmanpreet continued to surge ahead and bring up a half-century but it was an over from Renuka that totally changed the complexion of the chase. Carey, who couldn't put spin away, targeted Renuka for four boundaries in an over and one more delivery brushed her pads before racing to the ropes which meant the batting side eventually fetched 20 runs in the space of six deliveries. Giants didn't help their cause when Fulmali failed to latch on to a chance offered by Harmanpreet. The skipper rubbed salt into the opposition's wounds by smashing two more fours in the same over to bring her side closer. Much to the bowling side's frustration, another chance went down in the penultimate over before Harmanpreet put an end to their misery with four balls remaining.

Brief scores: Gujarat Giants 192/5 in 20 overs (Georgia Wareham 43*, Bharti Fulmali 36*; Shabnim Ismail 1/25) lost to Mumbai Indians 193/3 in 19.2 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 71*, Amanjot Kaur 40; Sophie Devine 1/29) by 7 wickets