Women's T20 League

Match 1: GUJ-W vs MUM-W

Preview

The first-ever edition of the Women’s IND T20 League is all set to begin on Saturday at 08:00 PM IST, 04th March 2023. The opening match will take place between Gujarat Women's versus Mumbai Women's. This match is scheduled to take place at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai. GUJ and MUM will be eying a perfect start in the tournament and want to get their acts together. It will be interesting to see Indian and overseas players play for the same team.

This Women's IND T20 franchise cricket league could prove to be a great platform for Indian women cricketers to flaunt their skills while playing with international cricketers from all around the world. MUM-W has a strong group of Indian players the side will be led by Harmantpreet kaur Indian Women's team skipper, and it is a big advantage for them when pitted against Beth Mooney-led Gujarat, who lack big Indian names. It is the first game for both teams, and there will be nerves in both camps.

We can expect a close contest on the surface that will produce lots of runs. The current Women's T20 WC champion player Beth Mooney would lead the side in the inaugural season of the tournament. The Oz opener has enjoyed an excellent run on the personal front, and she would like to instil the same confidence in the team. GUJ will bank on their all-rounders, and it will be interesting to see how the side fares in the game against one of the strongest teams.

29-year-old Beth Mooney must lead from the front in this game, and she will look to set up a big opening wicket stand with 24-year-old English batter Sophia Dunkley. In the middle order, GUJ will expect runs from the likes of Sabbineni Meghana, Harleen Deol, and Dayalan Hemalatha. GUJ can bat deep, and Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Sneh Rana, and Hurley Gala will look to add quick runs down the order in this game.  

In terms of bowling, Gujarat will need good spells from Aussie pacer Annabel Sutherland and India's right-arm off-break bowler Sneh Rana with the new ball, as their opponents have a strong batting line-up. 21-year-old Sutherland is an experienced bowler who will look to bowl tight lines in the middle overs with 26-year-old Indian player Monica Patel.

Harmanpreet Kaur-led Mumbai side looks like one of the top contenders to claim their maiden hands on the title like Men's Mumbai IND T20 League. Mumbai has a good balance on the batting and bowling fronts and shall look for a win in their opening game. 33-year-old Kaur likes leading from the front, and seeing how she leads this side will be interesting.  

Windies skipper Hayley Matthews and 23-year-old Indian batter Amanjot Kaur must set up a big opening wicket stand in this game, as they will face a strong bowling attack. Mumbai has strength in the middle order, with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, Dhara Gujjar, and Yastika Bhatia in the team. MUM will be playing this match at their home ground and will like quick runs in the lower middle order from Pooja Vastrakar, Nat Sciver, and Amelia Kerr.  

20-year-old English gun bowler Issy Wong and India's Sonam Yadav need to bowl tight spells in the early overs to put the GUJ under backfoot in the opening match. Black Caps' 22-year-old off-break bowler Amelia Kerr must keep the scoring rate under check in the middle overs. The trio of Saika Ishaque, Pooja Vastrakar, and Nat Sciver add dept to this bowling attack for MUM, making it a potent force.

Match Details

Match: GUJ-W vs MUM-W, Match 1, Women's T20 League

Date: Saturday, 04th March

Time: 08:00 PM

Venue: Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai

Pitch & Weather Report

This venue is one of the best T20 venues in India and the ball comes to the bat nicely and allows batters to hit through the line. Pace bowlers must rely on their skills to do well at this venue. Spinners have done well as the ball turns sharply on this track.

It is the tournament's first game which will take place between GUJ-W vs MUM-W, and we expect the wicket to have something for the bowlers. Most sides have won games here chasing scores, and both captains would have this in their minds. The side winning the toss shall look to bowl first in this game on Saturday.

The maximum temperature will remain at 37°C, with a low of 25°C with 30% humidity, and a wind speed of 19 Km/hr for the first Match, the Women's IND T20 on Mar 04 b/w GUJ-W vs MUM-W. The weather in Dr DY Patil Sports Academy during the match day will be clear and no rain is predicted.

GUJ-W vs MUM-W Squad:

GUJ-W: Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Georgia Wareham, Sneh Rana, Annabel Sutherland, Deandra Dottin, Sophia Dunkley, Sushma Verma, Tanuja Kanwer, Harleen Deol, Ashwani Kumari, Dayalan Hemalatha, Mansi Joshi, Monica Patel, Sabbineni Meghana, Hurley Gala, Parunika Sisodia, Shabnam Shakil.

MUM-W: Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Pooja Vastrakar, Yastika Bhatia, Heather Graham, Isabelle Wong, Amanjot Kaur, Dhara Gujjar, Saika Ishaque, Hayley Matthews, Chloe Tryon, Humaira Kazi, Priyanka Bala, Sonam Yadav, Jintimani Kalita, Neelam Bisht

GUJ-W vs MUM-W: Probable XIs

GUJ-W: Meghana, Dottin, Beth Mooney, Dunkley, Gardner, Harleen Doel, Sushma Verma, Sneh Rana, Mansi Joshi, Tanuja Knawar, Monica Patel

MUM-W: Amanjot Kaur, Matthews, Bhatia, Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver, Tryon, Amelia Kerr, Pooja Vastrakar, Issy Wong, Sonam Yadav, Saika Ishaque

Match Prediction

It is going to be a good clash between both sides as GUJ-W and MUM-W will play in the first match of the tournament that will take place in Mumbai which might help the Hosts MUM in this match. GUJ-W will be banking on their all-rounders to win the game under the captaincy of Beth Mooney. The absence of experienced Indian players in the team is a downside for Gujarat, and Mooney's side will have to overcome this challenge. Mumbai has a strong group of players and a powerful batting line-up. We expect a close game and we pick MUM to win this one.

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