With two games left in the league stage, Mumbai Indians will look to make the most of the opportunity and push for a first-place finish on the WPL points table, starting with the clash against in-form Gujarat Giants here on Monday. (More Cricket News)
UP Warriorz바카라™s win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 12 runs knocked the defending champions out from the race to the playoffs on Saturday, confirming the qualification for Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Giants in the process.
But what remains is the final classification of the points table. Harmanpreet Kaur바카라™s MI, who return to the Brabourne Stadium here for the final leg of the third WPL 바카라” their home ground where they had won the inaugural edition in 2023 바카라” will look for a top-place finish.
The team that tops the points table at the end of the league round will get a direct entry into the final and MI, who play back-to-back matches on Monday and Tuesday, will aim to go past DC who are currently at the first spot with 10 points and a Net Run Rate of 0.396.
For MI, topping the table will also help them avoid a possible fourth game in a span of six days 바카라” the Eliminator 바카라” which could test the squad to the hilt in hot and humid conditions here.
MI are currently third with 8 points and NRR of 0.267 and if they win both these matches 바카라” against GG and RCB 바카라” they can finish at the top with a maximum of 12 points.
The Giants, currently placed second 8 points and NRR of 0.334, can finish at best with 10 points provided they beat Mumbai Indians, which would place them at even keel with DC.
In such a scenario, the NRR will determine how teams are placed on the points table.
The teams that finish second and third will meet in the Eliminator on Thursday, with the summit clash slated to be played on Saturday.
But it won바카라™t be an easy task to begin with for MI as the Giants have been on a roll recording three heavy wins on the trot to make it to the final three.
Not only have the Giants바카라™ batters been firing in unison, their bowlers have also found their rhythm which makes them a team to beat in this knockouts round.
A maiden appearance in the WPL playoffs would certainly inspire the Giants, who turned things around after a dismal start that had them losing three of their first four matches.
On the other hand, MI have four wins and two defeats in six outings so far which has helped them to make their third WPL playoffs.
Once again, overseas stars Nat Sciver-Brunt (309 runs and 8 wickets, Hayley Matthews (181 runs and 9 wickets) and Amelia Kerr (10 wickets) have been at the forefront of their charge with skipper Harmanpreet (126 runs) in tow.
For the Giants, the troika of skipper Ashleigh Gardner (235 runs, 7 wickets), Beth Mooney (224 runs) and Harleen Deol (200 runs) in the batting line-up have found strong backing from their bowlers.
West Indies바카라™ all-rounder Deandra Dottin (132 runs, 9 wickets) hasn바카라™t really put a foot wrong but the revelation has been India바카라™s uncapped Kashvee Gautam (9 wickets) this season. Tanuja Kanwer (7 wickets) is not too far behind.
Mumbai Indians: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Akshita Maheshwari, Amandeep Kaur, Amanjot Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Chloe Tryon, Hayley Matthews, Jintimani Kalita, Keerthana Balakrishnan, Nadine de Klerk, Natalie Sciver-Brunt, Sajeevan Sajana, Sanskriti Gupta, G Kamalini (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Parunika Sisodia, Saika Ishaque, Shabnim Ismai.
Gujarat Giants: Ashleigh Garnder (c), Laura Wolvaardt, Bharti Fulmali, Phoebe Litchfield, Simran Shaikh, Danielle Gibson, Dayalan Hemalatha, Deandra Dottin, Harleen Deol, Sayali Satghare, Tanuja Kanwer, Beth Mooney (wk), Kashvee Gautam, Mannat Kashyap, Meghna Singh, Prakashika Naik, Priya Mishra, Shabman Shakil.
Match stars at 7:30pm IST.
