Mumbai Indians (MI) secured their second Women’s Premier League (WPL) title in three seasons, defending 149 for 7 to hand Delhi Capitals (DC) their third consecutive runners-up finish. MI’s victory came by eight runs, as Nat Sciver-Brunt and Harmanpreet Kaur played crucial roles with the bat before the bowlers sealed the deal.
Sciver-Brunt, who became the first to score 1000 WPL runs, and Harmanpreet, who crossed 300 runs in a season for the first time, rescued MI from 14 for 2. Their 89-run stand for the third wicket set the foundation, with Harmanpreet scoring a fluent 66 off 36 balls.
In response, DC struggled early, crumbling to 44 for 4. However, Marizanne Kapp’s aggressive 40 off 26 balls, along with a late cameo from Niki Prasad, reignited their chase. DC needed 14 off the last over, but Sciver-Brunt’s composed bowling ensured MI held on.
Kapp’s Heroics Fall Short
Sciver-Brunt struck early, clean bowling DC captain Meg Lanning. Shabnim Ismail and Amelia Kerr kept the pressure on, reducing DC to 66 for 5. Jemimah Rodrigues’ promising innings ended at a crucial moment, and Sarah Bryce’s run-out left DC reeling at 83 for 6.
Kapp, determined to make her mark, smashed Sciver-Brunt for a six before punishing Hayley Matthews and Saika Ishaque. She brought the equation down to 29 off 18 balls, and as the Brabourne Stadium crowd roared for DC, she fell to Sciver-Brunt at long-off. That dismissal turned the game decisively in MI’s favor.
Disciplined Bowling Stifles MI’s Start
DC chose to bowl first, with Kapp and Shikha Pandey making early inroads. Kapp’s sharp delivery rattled Matthews’ stumps, while Rodrigues’ sharp catch sent Yastika Bhatia back. MI stumbled to 20 for 2 in the powerplay, their second-lowest start in WPL history.
Harmanpreet and Sciver-Brunt then counter-attacked, adding 59 runs in five overs. Harmanpreet’s effortless stroke play, including a six off Annabel Sutherland and three consecutive boundaries off Jess Jonassen, changed the momentum. Her 50 off 36 balls gave MI much-needed stability.
Late Strikes Not Enough for DC
DC introduced N Shree Charani over Radha Yadav, trusting her as an extra spin option. She delivered, breaking the 89-run stand and conceding just six runs in her second over. Sutherland then dismissed Harmanpreet, triggering a collapse from 102 for 2 to 118 for 6. However, MI still managed to add 25 runs in the last two overs, reaching a competitive 149 for 7.
DC picked up 5 for 45 in the final five overs, but MI’s total proved just enough. The win marked the fourth time a sub-150 target was successfully defended in WPL history, with DC ending up on the losing side three times. Their eight-run loss is likely to sting the most.
Leave a Reply