Beth Mooney's horror start to Women's Premier League debut
The World Cup star looked in pain during the opening match.
Beth Mooney has been taken off the field and sent for scans after injuring herself while batting in her Gujarat Giants side in the opening match of India's new Women's Premier League. The Gujarat Giants were humbled as the Mumbai India blasted their way to a 143-run victory.
Mooney, in her first major captaincy role, watched her opponents rattle up a huge total of 5-207 after she sent them into bat. The player-of-the-match in the World Cup final then strode out to the crease ready to chase down the huge total.
'EMOTIONAL': Aussie favourite Trent Copeland's sad announcement
DEFIANT: Steve Smith's huge captaincy admission after vital win in India
However, Mooney just faced four balls before she went down injured. She was helped from the field and retired hurt without scoring.
Mooney appeared to hurt her left knee while between the crease. Mooney's injury is a huge blow in the potentially game-changing league in Mumbai's DY Patil Stadium on Saturday.
And it didn't get any better for the Giants as they capitulated for 64 off just 15.1 overs. There's now a big question mark over whether Mooney will be fit to play in Sunday's second match against a UP Warriorz team captained by her Australian opening partner Alyssa Healy.
The Giants have invested heavily in Australian power, taking on Rachael Haynes as the coach, Mooney snapped up for $350,000 as captain and star batter and allrounder Ash Gardner as the joint-most expensive overseas recruit for $558,000. Fans were quick to wish Mooney a quick recovery after suffering the setback in the opening match of the inaugural tournament.
Gujarat Giants captain Beth Mooney walks off the field.
Wishing her a speedy recovery.
📸: Jio Cinema pic.twitter.com/2LzARJGctC— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) March 4, 2023
Here's wishing a speedy recovery to Beth Mooney, who retired hurt today 🙌
— The Bharat Army (@thebharatarmy) March 4, 2023
An unfortunate start to the chase for the Gujarat Giants!
Captain Beth Mooney is retired hurt while Harleen Deol gets dismissed in the very first over by @natsciver! #TATAWPL | #GGvMI pic.twitter.com/Pxa25TsVV7— Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) March 4, 2023
Hope it's not that serious with Beth Mooney
If she's not able to continue then
Laura Wolvaardt will replace Beth Mooney for remaining season of WPL#TATAWPL #WPL2023— Nilesh G (@oye_nilesh) March 4, 2023
Mumbai Indians win opening Women's Premier League match
Georgia Wareham, who like Mooney and Gardner had played in Australia's winning team in last weekend's T20 World Cup final win over South Africa in Cape Town, and Annabel Sutherland made up the Giants' powerful Aussie quartet. But the three bowlers all got carted around, conceding 100 runs off 10 overs between them, with Gardner taking 1-38 off four, Wareham 1-30 off three and Sutherland 0-32 off three.
Big-hitting Gardner, hopefully not weighed down by her huge price tag, also failed with the bat, caught at slip for a golden duck. But, fittingly, after all the Bollywood glitz that preceded the launch of the women's game's richest league, it was home hero, Mumbai captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who did most to get the tournament off to a rip-roaring start in front of an enthusiastic crowd, cracking 65 off 30 balls.
"It was a brilliant start, it feels like a dream come true," said Harmanpreet, who has predicted the league will be a "game-changer" for women's cricket.
"We kept things simple and clear. Told players to play natural. Obviously it's a big day for women's cricket - but it was all about backing yourself."
Last year, five teams in the tournament sold for $806 million in a landmark moment for women's cricket.
with AAP
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.
