11:05pm That will be all from us, folks. We will be back tomorrow as the Delhi Capitals clash with the UP Warriorz. Until then, this is goodbye from me (Shashwat), Thilak and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Take care!

Harmanpreet Kaur, Mumbai Indians captain: We have a very balanced side, all the all-rounders are the best in their countries. She has been great so far. Whenever she (Ismail) has gotten the opportunity, she has wanted to contribute. Our bowlers complement each other and that is a positive. (On having as many as nine bowlers in the eleven) We are just going with the best match-ups. When you have such a long bowling line-up, you have to think who has the best match-up and then pick (the bowlers). We want them (the top order) to give us a solid start. It is just two games and I am sure they will bounce back.

Amelia Kerr, Player of the Match: When you are bowling later on in the innings, you can get hit but also get wickets. For me, it is about working out the conditions and going to variations. It came out well tonight. It (the googly) is something I practice, it is a useful option in T20 cricket, especially against left-handers. The way Shabs (Shabnim Ismail) started off, it allowed us to stay on top. Charlotte Edwards (MI head coach) asked me to just go out there and bat till the end. Just about backing my game and I tried to play low-risk cricket in that situation. (On playing for MI) It is an amazing franchise to play for. Amazing group of people, that is what I enjoy most. We have match-winners and we are fortunate to have so many. Nice to see so many people step up at different times.

Beth Mooney, Gujarat Giants captain: I was a bit nervous about the first game against Mumbai but got through it unscathed fortunately. (On the score) We let ourselves down in the first ten overs. Credit has to go to TK and Bryce to get us to a defendable total. We were 20 runs short in the end to make it a challenging chase. Lot to take away from the first innings. (On Bryce) She was very good tonight. She has been a great find, hopefully this is just a sign of things to come. Sometimes you have to take the result out, especially in a new team. It is disappointing to lose but we take the positives and move on to the next game. taking the emotion out of the result is really important.

Shabnim Ismail: I went back to Cape Town, worked with my bowling coach to start getting some swing. Happy it worked out. I am still working as hard as I can to contribute to my team. I have worked a lot (on getting swing) and happy I could do that today. (On switching to the Mumbai Indians) I don't like to put pressure on myself, I like to do my thing and keep things simple. It is not easy for Wong, and that my success is her success and her success is my success. (On the pitch) The pitch we played on the first day was better, it was quicker. The wicket was much slower tonight but there was movement. So, I decided to bowl a little fuller.

10:43pm A fairly comfortable win for the defending champions, despite losing a couple of wickets towards the end. They found themselves in a bit of early bother, with Yastika and Matthews both departing inside the powerplay. Sciver-Brunt, though, injected momentum and alleviated the pressure. Harmanpreet then got into her work and played a controlled hand, with Kerr providing her support through the middle overs.

The Giants just did not have enough runs to play with. Even when they picked up two early wickets, the required-run rate did not zing up to worrying proportions (from an MI perspective). Their fielding also left a bit to be desired. They will, however, be happy with how their bowlers adapted defending a low total, and they will go back to their hotel thinking that if they can put up good totals, they have the bowling attack to defend it.

18.1
6
Rana to H Kaur, SIX, and Harmanpreet finishes it off in style! Right in the slot outside off. Harmanpreet picks the length, gets down on one knee and smokes it clean over the deep mid wicket fence. A trademark stroke to polish off what is now becoming a trademark and clinical run-chase!

Rana to bowl the penultimate over. MI need just four more runs to make it two out of two

END OF OVER:
18 | 5 Runs | MI-W: 123/5 (4 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 6.83, RRR: 2.00)

  • Amanjot Kaur0 (5b)
  • Harmanpreet Kaur40 (40b)
  • Ashleigh Gardner4-0-23-0
  • Tanuja Kanwar4-0-21-2
17.6
0
Gardner to AB Kaur, no run, length outside off. Amanjot continues swinging like a rusty gate and misses
17.5
0
Gardner to AB Kaur, no run, shortish outside off. Amanjot goes back and taps it to cover point
17.4
0
Gardner to AB Kaur, no run, full outside off. Amanjot tries to swipe it away but only connects with fresh air
17.3
1
Gardner to H Kaur, 1 run, throws up the bait outside off. Harmanpreet comes down the track and shanks it towards deep mid wicket
17.2
0
Gardner to H Kaur, no run, tossed up on a length on off. Harmanpreet defends

Just five needed now

17.1
4
Gardner to H Kaur, FOUR, outside edge and this races away! Back of a length outside off. Harmanpreet has a loose waft at it away from her body and gets a nick that beats the keeper to her right!

END OF OVER:
17 | 3 Runs 1 Wkt | MI-W: 118/5 (9 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 6.94, RRR: 3.00)

  • Amanjot Kaur0 (2b)
  • Harmanpreet Kaur35 (37b)
  • Tanuja Kanwar4-0-21-2
  • Lea Tahuhu3-0-17-1
16.6
0
Kanwar to AB Kaur, no run, full on middle and leg. Amanjot lunges forward and plonks it towards short mid wicket
16.5
0
Kanwar to AB Kaur, no run, length on off. Amanjot comes half forward and pokes it towards mid on

Amanjot strides out

16.4
W
Kanwar to Vastrakar, OUT, knocks her over! Flighted up deliciously on a length on off stump. Vastrakar plays for the turn but the ball keeps coming back in. She is beaten in the flight too and cannot get to the pitch of the ball. Sneaks in between bat and pad, and rattles the stumps. Kanwar and Mooney are pumped, and perhaps they still believe! The umpires did check if the Giants had enough fielders inside the circle and after watching a replay or two, the third umpire was satisfied that there was no infringement.

P Vastrakar b Kanwar 1 (4m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00

16.3
1
Kanwar to H Kaur, 1 run, back of a length on off. Harmanpreet knocks it to long on with minimal fuss
16.2
1
Kanwar to Vastrakar, 1 run, very full on leg stump. Pushed down the ground to long on

Vastrakar on strike

16.1
1
Kanwar to H Kaur, 1 run, full on leg stump. Harmanpreet eases it out to deep mid wicket

END OF OVER:
16 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | MI-W: 115/4 (12 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 7.18, RRR: 3.00)

  • Harmanpreet Kaur33 (35b)
  • Lea Tahuhu3-0-17-1
  • Ashleigh Gardner3-0-18-0
15.6
W
Tahuhu to Kerr, OUT, big appeal, and given! Reviewed straightaway! Length delivery angled into off stump. Kerr looks for the scoop again and seems to miss. The ball flicks up off the pad and is caught by Mooney. Not sure if the umpire gave it out as lbw or caught-behind. Looks like it is an lbw review. No bat involved. Impact is in line with off stump and the ball is crashing into off stump according to Ball Tracking. Kerr has to go!

AC Kerr lbw b Tahuhu 31 (37m 25b 3x4 0x6) SR: 124.00

MI Women 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st19HK MatthewsYH Bhatia
2nd2HK MatthewsNat Sciver-Brunt
3rd28H KaurNat Sciver-Brunt
4th66H KaurAC Kerr
5th3H KaurP Vastrakar
6th11H KaurAB Kaur