'It was About Backing my Game', Says MI's Amelia Kerr After Match-winning All-round Performance Against GG

Mumbai Indians picked up a 5-wicket win over Gujarat Giants on Sunday in the second edition of the WPL at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru.

Amelia Kerr took four wickets to restrict Gujarat Giants to 126/9 in 20 overs, before chipping in with a 22-run contribution to solidify the chase alongside skipper Harmanpreet Kaur after the team had lost 3 wickets early on in the chase.

The New Zealand native, who came on to bowl rather late in the first innings, sadi that going for runs was a possibility, but she backed herself to scalp the wickets.

“When you are bowling later on in the innings, you can get hit but also get wickets,” the Kiwi all-rounder said.

“For me, it is about working out the conditions and going to variations. It came out well tonight,” she added.

The 23-year-old made good use of the googly as her contributions with the ball proved crucial to the Mumbai Indians wrapping up the Giants for a low total.

“It is something I practice, it’s a useful option in T20 cricket, especially against left-handers,” she revealed.

South African pacer Shabnim Ismail claimed three wickets to rattle the Gujarat top order and Kerr said it helped her side gain control early in the game.

“The way Shabs started off allowed us to stay on top,” the Kiwi said.

Kerr also added that MI head coach, Charlotte Edwards, asked the all-rounder to stick to her instincts and see out the game. The youngster also added that the side was filled with amazing players who could step up for the team’s cause.

“Charlotte Edwards asked me to just go out there and bat till the end. It was just about backing my game and I tried to play good cricketing shots, it’s about going out there and playing low-risk cricket in that situation.”

“It’s 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,” the 23-year-old New Zealand all-rounder concluded.