10:08 PM IST, 5:38 PM local time: A stylish and sensible 88* (50) from Smriti Mandhana shepherds Manchester Super Giants over the finish line. They win by 4 wickets and with 4 balls to spare.
After being put into bat, Sunrisers Leeds scored 142/4 — a score that always seemed a bit under-par. Whilst the odd ball did stick in the surface, it was not a pitch with any gremlins in it. Hence, what hurt the hosts was the fact that none of their batters went on to make a score of substance. Phoebe Litchfield got a start, but lost steam midway through her innings. Annabel Sutherland scored 35 (24) but could not apply the finishing touches. Bryony Smith's 26 (22) was not fluent either. The captain played, perhaps, the most valuable knock. Gibson's 18* (6) gave the innings the impetus that was needed at the end. Kathryn Bryce, Mady Villiers and Maitlan Brown picked up a wicket each.
In response Manchester Super Giants got off to a great start, with openers Meg Lanning and Smriti Mandhana scoring 35 runs without much fuss off the 25 balls of the powerplay. The skipper played a rash shot to get out, but the southpaw kept going. Then, the visitors did went through a tricky period. After being 61/1 after 40 balls, they were soon reduced to 71/5 in 54. Sunrisers Leeds had an opening. But only if they could have got Mandhana out.. They did get a couple of chances. But both were spilled — one by Litchfield and the other by Carter. Eventually, the left-hander took Manchester Super Giants home.
Hannah Baker, Jess Jonasse, Cassidy McCarthy and Dani Gibson were the wicket-takers for Sunrisers Leeds in this match. Each with a dismissal apiece.