‘She’s been a real find for this tournament’ – Kate Cross impressed with Saika Ishaque’s WPL outings

Mumbai Indians (MI) defeated Delhi Capitals (DC) in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) table-top clash at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on Thursday, March 9. Mumbai Indians bowlers put up a stellar show as they bundled out Meg Lanning-led side to 105 in 18 overs. Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. chased the target in just 15 overs, scoring 109 after losing just two wickets.

MI bowlers Saika Ishaque, Issy Wong, and Hayley Matthews each picked up three wickets each against Delhi Capitals. Meanwhile, openers Yastika Bhatia (41 off 32) and Matthews (32 off 31) put on 65 and guided MI to register their third consecutive win.

Ishaque is the current Purple Cap holder having picked nine wickets so far. Kate Cross, WPL expert for Sports18 and JioCinema was full of praise for the 27-year-old Ishaque. The England cricketer showered praise on the left-arm orthodox bowler.

“She’s jumped significantly ahead of Hayley Matthews, her teammate. She bowls stump-to-stump, she changes the angles at which she bowls. She bowled in the cap today, I don’t think she wants to take it off. She’s been a real find for this tournament and it’s great for her (captain Harmanpreet Kaur) to have players like that to throw the ball to her because she can find the breakthrough and T20 cricket is all about taking wickets,” Cross said.

Kate Cross lauds Mumbai Indians skipper Harmanpreet Kaur after three straight wins

Cross, 31, feels that Mumbai Indians are firm contenders for winning the inaugural WPL title. The English bowler was also impressed with how Harmanpreet has led her side in all three matches they played.

“Mumbai have been absolutely formidable. They look complete in every single department. They dropped a few catches early and that’s the only thing you can say about tonight that they didn’t get perfect. They’ve been a brilliant team to watch. Who’ll catch them? I am not too sure…” Cross said. 

“To win three games by the margins they’ve had, I can’t imagine how smug Harmanpreet must be feeling right now because they’ve been fantastic. The tone was set with how they bowled, how Wong bowled, and how Ishaque bowled. They just had this plan and they executed it, that’s all you can ask for as a captain. They managed to pick up the wickets, which was the bonus on top of executing the plan,” she concluded.

Mumbai Indians are standing at the top of the WPL points table with six points. They will next face Alyssa Healy-led UP Warriorz at the Brabourne Stadium on Sunday, March 12.

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