Mumbai Indians' left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque currently leads the list of Women's Premier League (WPL) wicket-takers with nine wickets in her kitty, and it has left England pacer Kate Cross mighty impressed.
"She's jumped significantly ahead of Hayley Matthews, her teammate. She bowls stump-to-stump, and she changes the angles at which she bowls. She bowled with the cap and I don't think she wants to take it off," Kate was quoted as saying by Sports18 and JioCinema.
1/10:WPL: Dominant Mumbai Indians register third consecutive win
<p>Read more on TOI Sports</p>
2/10:DOMINANT SHOW
<p>Mumbai Indians produced a clinical performance to thrash Delhi Capitals by eight wickets in the seventh match of the Women's Premier League 2023 on Thursday.</p>TIMESOFINDIA.COM
3/10:MUMBAI INDIANS ON TOP
<p>This was Mumbai's third consecutive victory in the league. <br /></p>PTI
4/10:SPECTACULAR
<p>Mumbai Indians are at the top of the table with six points. <br /></p>PTI
5/10:FIRST DEFEAT
<p>On the other hand, Delhi Capitals suffered their first loss and are at the second position with four points.<br /></p>PTI
6/10:BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE
<p>Riding on brilliant bowling performances from Issy Wong (3/10), Saika Ishaque (3/13) and Hayley Matthews (3/19), Mumbai Indians bowled out Delhi Capitals for 105 in 18 overs.<br /></p>PTI
7/10:BOWLERS' DAY
<p>Issy, Saika and Hayley kept picking crucial wickets for Mumbai at regular intervals as only two Delhi batters Meg Lanning (43 off 41) and Jemimah Rodrigues (25 off 18) showed some fight.<br /></p>PTI
8/10:'SUPER' YASTIKA
<p>In reply, opener Yastika Bhatia played a fine knock (41 off 32) for Mumbai Indians before getting out in the 9th over. <br /></p>PTI
9/10:MAGNIFICENT
<p>Yastika's knock was studded with 8 boundaries<br /></p>TIMESOFINDIA.COM
10/10:ROMP HOME IN STYLE
<p>Thereafter, Delhi Capitals removed another opener Hayley Matthews (32 of 31) in the 12th over but it was not enough as Nat Sciver-Brunt (23 not out) and Harmanpreet Kaur (11) played some adventurous shots to keep the score-board moving.<br /></p>PTISaika has grabbed the opportunity that WPL has given to the players, especially those who are uncapped, to showcase their talent.
On Thursday, in the match between MI and Delhi Capitals, Saika took out Shafali Verma, Meg Lanning and Jemimah Rodrigues in a game-changing spell to set the base for an eight-wicket victory for Mumbai Indians.
"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," said Kate.
Kate also felt that Mumbai, the only undefeated side in the competition, are a firm contender for the title now.
(AI image)
"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."
(With agency inputs)
