News

MI Tracker: Our girls at the World Cup

By Mumbai Indians

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is underway in South Africa and has seen some stellar encounters already. And trust the Mumbai Indians’ stars recently inducted into our #OneFamily to light it up. Here’s a daily rolling report, with everything our stars have done on each day - many hits, some misses. Go on, keep scrolling .. 

 

****** 

Day 15 - February 26, 2023

Chloe Tryon: Standing on the brink of creating history to become the first South African team to win a World Cup, the mighty but annoying Australians crushed the hosts' hopes. Chloe, with a jaw-dropping catch to get rid of Meg Lanning, a valuable 23-ball 25, and 1/15 in two, fought hard, but alas, ended up on the wrong side of things.

****** 

Day 14 - February 24, 2023

Natalie Sciver-Brunt: Chasing a hat-trick of POTMs in this T20 World Cup, the England vice-captain made a strong case for herself in the penultimate game against South Africa. She almost got her team to the finals with a valiant 40 off 34. Her entertaining innings, however, came to an unexpected end when she mistimed one to find the safe hands of Tazmin Brits at long-on.    

Chloe Tryon: Who does not like to be on the cusp of history? South Africa (Men and Women) have never made it to the finals of any World Cup, and for the first time, their women's team is just one step away from getting their hands on the silverware. Can Chloe, who unfortunately missed out on contributing big in the semi-final against England, coming late in the innings and ending up with a 3-ball 3, do it for one last time and power the hosts to the championship, erasing the "Chokers" tag forever?

******

 

Day 13 - February 23, 2023

Harmanpreet Kaur: Cometh the semi-final against Australia, captain Kaur lets herself loose and expresses herself openly. Her innings of 52 took us back to the 2017 WC semi-final when she single-handedly powered India into the finals. An unlucky run-out shattered a billion hearts just like it did when MS Dhoni was found wanting of his crease in the 2019 WC semi-final against New Zealand. India - captains - WC - semi-finals - run-outs seem to notoriously get along.  

Yastika Bhatia: Taking on the mighty Australians in the semi-final, India decided to go batting-heavy as they added Yastika Bhatia into the mix. The southpaw played just her second game in the WC after a relatively decent outing against Pakistan in the tournament opener. She looked fluent in her brief stay at the crease against the defending champions. However, a bizarre run-out sent her packing, adding to the woes of the Indian camp.

******

Day 12 - February 21, 2023

Natalie Sciver-Brunt: Back-to-back POTM awards for our Nat! A stroke-filled 81 not out off 40 against a hapless Pakistan attack sealed it for England in their last league game before they play the semi-finals against South Africa. She was not done for the day though, and brought out her bowling avatar to snap 1/4 in one over. There are dream runs, and then there is this. She is clearly playing at another level! 

Chloe Tryon: Just a couple of overs for 14 runs with the ball for the South African all-rounder against Bangladesh. In the must-win match, her teammates Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits ensured the rest of the batters enjoyed some rest before the all-important semi-final clash against England.

 

******

Day 11 - February 20, 2023

Harmanpreet Kaur: Walking out to bat in a record 150th T20I, skipper Harman promoted herself up the order at number three against Ireland. In a must-win game, she was struck by the curse of 13. The gift of timing, which has always been her able ally, wasn't quite there. As skipper though, she was top notch, changing around the bowlers and ensuring India were safe on the DLS par score when the heavens opened up.   

Pooja Vastrakar: The sight of trees swaying to the sound of wind and boundary cushions not sitting quietly in their place is a visual treat for any fast bowler. Sharing the new ball with Renuka Singh Thakur, Pooja Vastrakar looked threatening with her probing lines and lengths as she hand-cuffed the batters, not allowing them to score freely. Out of the 14 balls she delivered before the rain God decided to intervene, she bowled 10 dots.  

******

 

Day 10 – February 19, 2023

 

Hayley Matthews: In cricket, form can sometimes be a rare commodity. So, if you acquire it once, make sure you make its full use, and that is just what Hayley Matthews did against Pakistan. A patient 21-ball 20 and a valuable 2/14 in four overs powered West Indies to a win, thereby almost shattering Pakistan’s hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals.

 

Amelia Kerr: This bundle of talent was at her “Kerr”ismatic best against Sri Lanka in a must-win game for New Zealand. An entertaining 48-ball 68 and 2/7 guaranteed her the Player of the Match award. All of 22 years, this White Fern can unleash some big hits to rattle the opposition. After a long wait of 59 T20Is, Kerr registered her maiden T20I half-century. Just the kind of form we like going into the …

 

******

 

Day 9 – February 18, 2023

 

Harmanpreet Kaur: A slight brain-fade moment for skipper Kaur as she ballooned one in the air to have a long walk back to the dugout. Coming in to bat in a pressure cooker situation against England, she didn’t quite trouble the scorers during her brief stay of six-ball four. 

  

Pooja Vastrakar: An off day with the ball and an insufficient opportunity with the bat described Pooja Vastrakar’s outing against England. Her two overs went for a couple of dozen runs, and she could not redeem herself later in the innings with the bat as she got to face just four balls.

 

Natalie Sciver-Brunt: It was as if the England vice-captain was batting with a broom against India as she swept the bowlers with ease. She absolutely gobsmacked them during her knock of 50 from 42, with her intelligent foot movements and uncanny use of crease. Nat-megs were on liberal display!

 

Chloe Tryon: Blowing hot and cold a tad bit in this T20 World Cup is Chloe Tryon. With the bat, she managed a 3-ball 1. With the ball, she conceded 20 runs in her two overs. Not the best of outings, which reflected in South Africa’s performance as well, as the World Champions, the Aussies, blew them away.

 

******

 

Day 8 – February 17, 2023

 

Amelia Kerr: When there are SMASH sisters on either side of the batting order, pacing your innings can sometimes get tricky, which is what happened with Amelia Kerr against Bangladesh. She made the long walk back to the dugout after scoring a 13-ball 16. With the ball, she made her presence felt with figures of 1/24 in four overs. 

 

Hayley Matthews: Hail Hayley, is perhaps what her West Indian teammates would have said after witnessing an incredible performance from her against Ireland. The skip showcased her 3-D skills as she impressed with bat, ball, and her fielding. To sum it up: a half-century, one wicket, two catches, and a Player of the Match award.

 

******

 

Day 7 – February 16, 2023

 

A rest day for all our MI stars. None of them were involved in the on-field action.

 

******

Day 6 – February 15, 2023

Hayley Matthews: The West Indies’ captain failed to pick up from where she had left in her last game, and fell to a bit of early aggression. Her would-be MI teammate, Pooja Vastrakar, snapped her wicket on the very first ball of her spell. However, Matthews, the wily off-spinner, did pull up her socks in the second innings and chipped in with miserly figures of 1/12 in four overs.  

Pooja Vastrakar: Sharing a new ball is always a privilege, and Pooja Vastrakar did not disappoint her captain, as she got rid of the dangerous Hayley Matthews on the first ball of her over, thereby setting the platform for the rest of the Indian bowlers to skittle the West Indians out for a sub-par total.

Harmanpreet Kaur: Quite the quiet Thor hammer here! The Indian captain dropped anchor to make sure West Indies’ not-so-stiff target of 119 was chased down. 33 off 42 -- useful runs, but not in the Harman-mould we’re used to seeing. It’s coming, IT IS COMING!

******

Day 5 – February 14, 2023

Nothing here. None of our players were involved on the day. A nice Valentine’s Day holiday.

******

Day 4 – February 13, 2023

 

Natalie Sciver-Brunt: Not her usual self, Nat was shown the door early by Ireland as they sent her packing for a dismal seven-ball five. Her early exit, though, did not put England in the doldrums as they were chasing a modest 106 against their neighbours. 

 

Chloe Tryon: After a forgettable outing in her previous appearance, the star South African all-rounder hit the right straps with both bat and ball against New Zealand. Her contributions of 40 from 34 and 2/12 in three were worth their weight in gold, and she was deservingly adjudged the Player of the Match.

 

Amelia Kerr: Quite unusual for the talented New Zealand all-rounder to go wicketless in her spell. Taking on the hosts, South Africa, Amelia Kerr scored 10 off 12 and conceded 21 runs in four overs. 

 

******

 

Day 3 – February 12, 2023

 

Harmanpreet Kaur: The Indian captain was quick to announce herself on D-day when she took the attack to the opposition. She looked threatening in her brief stay at the crease as she bludgeoned a boundary and caressed one to fine-leg during her 12-ball 16.      

 

Pooja Vastrakar: DIAL POOJA FOR CRUCIAL WICKETS! With her probing lines and lengths, this right-arm speedster is a genuine threat in the middle overs. She showed her class against Pakistan when she got the better of veteran Nida Dar for a duck in her very first over.

 

Yastika Bhatia: With the huge shoes of Smriti Mandhana to fill, Yastika Bhatia walked out to bat against arch-rivals Pakistan in India’s World Cup opener with a truckload of expectations. The wicket-keeper-batter started off steadily but perished after scoring a 20-ball 17 while trying to up the ante.

 

******

 

Day 2 – February 11, 2023

 

Hayley Matthews: Leading from the front, the captain of West Indies did just what the doctor ordered for. The swashbuckling opener got off to a flying start against England with a belligerent 42 off 32, an innings that was studded with eight fours.

 

Natalie Sciver-Brunt: England’s Ms. Consistent was up and running and did what she always does. The vice-captain crafted a fluent 40 off 30 against West Indies, peppering the boundary rope seven times. She was at the helm of the run chase and steered her side to a comfortable seven-wicket win.

 

Amelia Kerr: Playing against her trans-Tasmanian rival, Australia, Amelia Kerr stood out with an all-round show for her team with bat and ball. A magnificent bowling performance of 3/23 in four overs was followed up by a valiant batting effort of 30-ball 21. However, Kerr’s classics went in vain as Australia proved to be too hot to handle.

 

******

 

Day 1 – February 10, 2023

 

Chloe Tryon: When you are the hosts, you have an advantage, but with that comes the pressure of expectations. South Africa was shocked by Sri Lanka in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup opener as the island country handed a three-run defeat to Proteas in a nail-biting thriller. The tried and tested Tryon had a relatively quiet day with the bat as she managed to score a run-a-ball 10.