WPL 2023, Eliminator: Harmanpreet Kaur and Alyssa Healy’s teams go head-to-head in first knockout

For the first knockout match of Women’s Premier League in Navi Mumbai on Friday, Mumbai Indians’ Harmanpreet Kaur and UP Warriorz’s Alyssa Healy will walk out for the toss, perhaps sharing a joke or two. Maybe something about Harmanpreet’s luck (or lack of) in the toss of a coin. Or the same four-letter word in relation to the T20 World Cup semifinal, when Harmanpreet and Healy were the protagonists in the most decisive moment. Or the same four-letter word in the context of these two sides meeting earlier in the tournament when fortune favoured the Indian with the bail not falling out. Luck.

Whatever it is, the two captains will have a broad smile on their faces. Beyond any luck factor, both these teams have earned their spots in this Eliminator, one win away from reaching the first final of the WPL. Their teams have played some fine cricket. They have entertained the crowds in Mumbai over their 8 matches, Mumbai Indians delighting as the home team and UP Warriorz providing some grand entertainment in thrilling finishes.

With one win each when the two sides met each other during the league phase, the two teams enter the Eliminator with match-winners on either side.

When they met first time,...

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