Mandhana Magic Helps Super Giants Seal Win
In a classic match at Headingley, Manchester Super Giants won the battle of the northern powerhouses thanks to a magnificent knock by Indian megastar Smriti Mandhana, who helped the visitors overcome Sunrisers Leeds with four balls to spare in a derby to remember.
In a star-studded match between five Australian overseas stars and three Indians, Mandhana proved the difference, scoring her maiden fifty of the Hundred this year, her highest score at the competition, and her 59th overall in her short-format career.
She had her moments of fortune, being dropped by Phoebe Litchfield when she was on 30 and then, at a critical stage with 16 needed from 10, by Darcey Carter, the ball exploding through her hands to go away for four.
Those flaws aside, she was magnificent. She was conservative at first when leading the run chase, but she reached her half-century in 33 balls as Sunrisers attempted to turn the screw.
Four wickets went for ten runs, but Mandhana survived, dominating the final quarter and leading her team home with four balls to spare.
She sealed the victory with back-to-back sixes, elegantly lifted over Annabel Sutherland’s head, for four maximums in total, her match-winning 88 coming off 50 balls.
Earlier in the game, the Sunrisers fought to establish a tough score, with cameos from their Australian combination of Sutherland and Litchfield, as well as a flurry from skipper Dani Gibson at the end.
Kathryn Bryce, the Super Giants’ best bowler, caused the false shot that removed Litchfield for 31. It was fitting that Bryce was there at the end, along with Mandhana, to seal a famous victory that moves the Manchester franchise to 10 points from three games, second only to the Southern Brave.
Mandhana, the Meerkat Match Hero, stated: “It feels amazing to win the match. I got a little lucky with the missed opportunity, but I was still able to finish the task. We talked about the wicket’s hold, which wasn’t typical for Headingley.
Although I didn’t start well, we finished well.In franchise cricket, you’ll have good days and terrible days, and turnover is high, but winning matches like this puts you in a strong position.”
