There was a brief stoppage in play during the Gujarat Giants-Mumbai Indians Women’s Premier League clash today (March 9) as several sprinklers turned on with two overs left in the game, leading to a wet outfield that needed to be dried.

Needing 191 to win, Mumbai skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who was on 20 off 21 at one stage, overturned her slow start, making an unbeaten 95 in 48 balls, taking Mumbai over the line with one ball to spare. But the game was not without drama as play was delayed for around 10 minutes during Mumbai’s nervy run-chase after several sprinklers near the boundary rope switched on at the end of the 18th over.

Needing 65 in the last four overs, Harmanpreet unleashed beast mode as Mumbai scored 42 in the next 12 balls. After hitting a four in the 17th over, she took on Sneh Rana in the 18th, smashing the Gujarat all-rounder for three fours and two sixes as the equation reduced to 23 off 12.

Just then, a number of sprinklers near the ropes turned on, with joking suggestions claiming it was to douse the heat radiating from Harmanpreet’s bat. It led to frenetic camerapersons as they hurriedly looked to cover up their devices, while, on the field, the two skippers were not pleased at the unexpected break. Though the sprinklers were shut off soon after, Gujarat skipper Beth Mooney was sceptical of starting play on the wet outfield, which necessitated a super sopper going around the ground to soak up any excess moisture.

Super sopper is out now. Beth Mooney is supposed to have spoken to the umpires about not wanting to go on with a wet outfield. A wet ball is the last thing Gujarat Giants need right now.. but this pause will also break Mumbai Indians' momentum.

Mumbai needed 70 off 26. This… pic.twitter.com/ct5h8j0AFu

— Lavanya 🎙️🎥👩🏻‍💻 (@lav_narayanan) March 9, 2024

The break in play did not affect Harmanpreet, who continued playing her shots and saw Mumbai to a spectacular win, a day after UP Warriorz defended 137 against Delhi Capitals for a one-run victory.

Although a bizarre passage of play, this is not the first time the sprinklers have stopped a cricket match. Before Australia Women’s home game with Pakistan last year, sprinklers on the centre wicket went off as players were taking the field. Earlier, in 2019, a T20I between Ireland and Afghanistan in Dehradun had to be temporarily stopped as the sprinklers came on after the first over of play. It led to wet patches of water and the super sopper was sent onto the ground.

Subscribe to the Wisden Cricket YouTube channel for post-match analysis, player interviews, and much more.