Needing 16 off 13, Harmanpreet danced down the monitor to Shreyanka Patil and holed out to long-on. From there, Mumbai might simply handle 10 for two within the final two overs and fell quick to relinquish their title.
“You may see the elevate [Harmanpreet’s wicket] gave the RCB,” Edwards mentioned after the match. “Equally we might back Harman to take that shot on. If it goes for six, we want 12 [10] within the final two and we’re within the driving seat. I assumed it had gone for six when she had hit it.
“You’ve got simply received to back the participant to do what they suppose is the most effective in that state of affairs. Who am I to inform Harmanpreet Kaur what’s the precise factor to do when she has carried out the best way she has on this event? At that level that’s her shot, that’s her power. If she hits it for six, we would be sitting on our seats… however nonetheless, with 16 wanted off two overs, we must always nonetheless win that sport. It was a pivotal second within the sport.”
“For 38 overs of the sport we managed it, we simply did not management the final 12 balls of the sport and finally that value us a finals’ spot,” Edwards mentioned. “We’d have taken 135 firstly of the sport with the quick boundary on that [off] aspect. We received to give credit score to RCB as a result of they fought back and by no means gave up. The sport is gained or misplaced on small margins typically – if Harman hits that for six, it’s our sport. Sadly, it was not to be tonight. It is bitterly disappointing, and tougher for the gamers. They’re going to re-live these moments for a lot of years.
“I’m simply upset as a result of we performed properly. We responded properly from the opposite day and performed good cricket for 38 overs and doubtless let ourselves down in 12 balls.”
Edwards additionally heaped reward on Harmanpreet’s captaincy and credited her for bringing the most effective out of her gamers.
After Harmanpreet’s dismissal, S Sajana was stumped attempting to take on Sophie Molineux whereas Pooja Vastrakar missed a legspinner from Asha Sobhana to be out in the identical method. Amelia Kerr, batting at No. 5, stayed unbeaten on 27 off 25 however Mumbai failed to hit a single boundary within the final three overs. It was solely the second loss for Mumbai in a run-chase throughout two seasons of the WPL in 11 makes an attempt.
“For a few of these gamers, we fairly rapidly overlook, somebody like Sajana has solely performed home cricket,” Edwards mentioned of the learnings for the less-experienced gamers. “That is the most important stage these gamers play on. That is the WPL semi-final. Strain does take a toll, and that’s why you need your prime gamers there on the finish of the sport. It was not to be at this time. The gamers shall be higher for this expertise, however it isn’t simple as a result of we now have misplaced a sport we must always have gained. The gamers within the dressing room are hurting now however will certainly be taught from this and be stronger.”
Edwards did not suppose the lower-order’s lack of sport time within the center was a potential cause for the defeat.
“They’ve all had alternatives all through the season. Sajana opened the batting the opposite day. So, they aren’t wanting batting observe. They’ve all had a while out within the center. That isn’t the explanation we misplaced at this time. Once more, we did not play the ultimate 12 balls in addition to we must always have. I’m happy with the group, we fought back fairly properly with the ball and have been in management with the bat.”
Edwards spoke extremely of Patil, who picked up 2 for 16 in her 4 overs, whereas speaking of the Indian gamers who impressed her throughout this season.
S Sudarshanan is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo. @Sudarshanan7
