Yorkshire: Mandhana leads Super Giants to victory after Litchfield’s dropped catch
Manchester Super Giants secured a victory against Leeds Sunrisers in Yorkshire, chasing down a target of 143. The win was significantly influenced by a dropped catch by Phoebe Litchfield, which allowed Smriti Mandhana to play a match-winning innings.
The Sunrisers had set a total of 4-142. In response, the Super Giants faced early pressure, with Manchester at 4-68 at the innings’ midpoint. India batter Smriti Mandhana was a crucial wicket for Leeds, having scored 30 off 21 balls.
Mandhana’s pivotal innings
During the chase, Jess Jonassen bowled to Mandhana, who pulled the ball towards Litchfield at mid-wicket. Litchfield, an Australia international, advanced slightly but spilled the catch, a moment described as an uncharacteristic lapse. This dropped catch proved costly for the Sunrisers.
Despite Jonassen dismissing Mady Villiers two balls later, Mandhana capitalised on the reprieve. She went on to score 58 off her next 28 balls, ultimately guiding Manchester to victory with four balls to spare. Her innings included smashing her last two deliveries for six, leading the Super Giants to a total of 6-147.
Mandhana concluded her innings with 88 not out off 50 balls, marking the highest score of the match. Meg Lanning, captain of the Super Giants and another Australia player, was the only other Manchester batter to reach double figures, contributing 24 off 18 balls. Lanning was also dropped earlier in her innings when she was on six.
Lanning acknowledged that her team, which has now secured two wins with another match washed out, still has areas for improvement. She commented on the dropped catch, stating that such moments are part of the game and sometimes luck plays a role.
Sunrisers’ innings and other key moments
Earlier in the game, after being put in to bat, the Sunrisers lost Jonassen early, who was run out for seven. This occurred when fellow Australia player Maitlan Brown deflected Bryony Smith’s powerful drive onto the stumps while attempting a caught-and-bowled, resulting in Jonassen’s unfortunate dismissal while backing up.
Litchfield herself had an opportunity to make a greater impact. She was dropped at backward point when she was on one. Although she did not fully capitalise on this second chance to the extent Mandhana did, Litchfield still managed to score 31 off 26 balls before being caught at long-on.
Annabel Sutherland also contributed to the Sunrisers’ total, scoring 35 off 23 balls before miscuing a shot to wide mid-off off Brown’s bowling. Prior to her dismissal, Sutherland had hit Brown for 10 runs in the preceding three balls. Brown finished with figures of 1-27 off 20 balls.
During the chase, Lanning initiated her innings with a six and two fours but was well caught by Sutherland, who ran back to complete the catch. The Sunrisers seemed to be in a strong position for victory when four wickets fell for just 14 runs, including Brown being run out for a duck after facing only one ball due to a poor call from Mandhana.
However, Mandhana recovered from this error and delivered a performance that secured the win for her team.
Mandhana’s move to Super Giants
The move of Smriti Mandhana to Manchester Super Giants for The Hundred competition has generated significant discussion among fans. This transfer was described as one of the biggest in women’s cricket and surprised many, with some initially believing she had left her Women’s Premier League (WPL) team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), to join a different franchise in the WPL.
It was clarified that while Mandhana has joined the Super Giants family for The Hundred, she continues to be a part of the RCB team in the Women’s Premier League. The announcement of her joining the Super Giants caused a stir online, with fans reacting to the news.
The move highlights the growing opportunities for female players in India to participate in various T20 leagues globally, a rule that differs for male players who are generally restricted unless retired. Mandhana’s presence in The Hundred is seen by some as a significant advantage for the Manchester team.
The Super Giants welcomed Mandhana as a new member, with the team now having her as a key player for the upcoming edition of The Hundred. This development underscores the evolving landscape of women’s cricket and the increasing mobility of top players across different leagues.
The match on Tuesday saw Mandhana’s exceptional performance, culminating in her 88 not out, leading Manchester Super Giants to a notable win.
Source: aapnews.aap.com.au
