All-round Kerr, Harmanpreet guide MI to five-wicket win over Gujarat Giants in WPL
Bengaluru, Feb 25: Amelia Kerr came up with a splendid all-round effort to assist Mumbai Indians seal a five-wicket win over Gujarat Giants in a Women's Premier League match here on Sunday.
Kerr first made a strong impression with her leg-spin, grabbing four for 17 that helped defending champions Mumbai limit Gujarat Giants to an under-par 126 for nine.
The New Zealand player followed that effort with a 31 off 25 balls as Mumbai overhauled the target in 18.1 overs after getting reduced to 21 for two in the fourth over.
Kerr received excellent support from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (46 not out, 41 b, 5x4, 1x6)) as the pair made 66 runs for the fourth wicket as MI registered their second successive win in the tournament.
Nat-Sciver Brunt (22, 18 balls) too played a good hand and her scoops behind the wicketkeeper for fours off pacer Leah Tahuhu were epitome of innovation and timing.
But Brunt was run out as MI were in a spot of bother at 49 for three. However, Kerr and Harmanpreet displayed excellent game-awareness to bail their team out.
With a paltry target in front, both Kerr and Harmanpreet did not have to show any unnecessary urgency.
They kept the board moving with singles and twos, while hammering those occasional boundaries. Harmanpreet sliced Katherine Bryce past point for a classy four, while Kerr lapped Tahuhu over stumper Beth Mooney's head for a four.
However, Kerr did not last till the final lap as another attempt to play a scoop off Tahuhu saw her getting trapped in front of the wicket.
But by then she had done the job.
Earlier, Kerr and veteran pacer Shabnam Ismail (3/18) clamped down Giants with fine spells.
Ismail, who has retired from international cricket, showed that her fire had not dwindled while opening Mumbai's bowling in the Power Play segment, dismissing Veda Krishnamurthy and Harleen Deol.
Both Veda and Deol were trapped in front of the wicket with deliveries that swung back into them at a fair clip.
Pacer Brunt jettisoned Phoebe Litchfield in the sixth over as the Giants ended the Power Play at 43 for three.
But their innings nosedived further from there as Giants failed to find a boundary in the next 44 balls, and to add to their woes, they also lost wickets at regular intervals.
Skipper and opener Mooney, who survived the initial flurry of wickets, looked to get into some sort of rhythm but her attempt to reverse-lap Ismail ended in the hands of Yastika Bhatia behind the wickets.
At 58 for five in 11 overs, the Giants were always facing an uphill climb as Mumbai bowlers tightened their grip.
Kerr further complicated their troubles, dismissing Ashleigh Gardner and Sneh Rana in the space of two balls in the 14th over as Gujarat struggled for momentum and runs.
They added a touch of respectability to the total because of the eighth-wicket alliance between Bryce (25 not out) and Kanwar (28) worth 48 runs, the biggest in Gujarat innings.
But it was way too insufficient on the night.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Karnataka govt schools to hold mandatory parent-teacher meetings every 2 months
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Department of School Education and Literacy has decided to make parent-teacher meetings (PTMs) mandatory once every two months in all government schools, following an overwhelming response to the state’s first-ever mega PTM.
In a circular issued recently, the department has laid down a schedule requiring schools to invite parents regularly and update them on their children’s academic performance, extracurricular progress and any concerns related to behaviour or learning, Deccan Herald reported on Tuesday.
ALSO READ: Bangladesh's first female Prime Minister Khaleda Zia dies at 80
The officials of the department reportedly said that the mega PTM held across the state on Children’s Day received overwhelming response. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had inaugurated the event.
A senior department official said regular PTMs would help parents understand their role in their children’s education and strengthen coordination between teachers and families. Such interactions create a supportive learning environment and improve student outcomes.
Teachers say that the concept of PTM itself is new for government schools. “Even if we have to convey something to parents regarding their children, it is not an easy task to convince them to visit schools, especially in rural areas. But after the mega PTM most parents are happy to meet teachers,” said Chandrakala, head teacher working with a government high school.
The department has clarified that a yearly PTM schedule will be issued, and schools must strictly follow it. The aim is to conduct at least five PTMs in every academic year.
During the mega PTM, parents were also served meals prepared under the mid-day meal scheme. Teachers, however, said there is no clarity yet on whether meals for parents will continue during future PTMs.
