MI Hold Their Nerve to Defend 149 Against Delhi Capitals
Mumbai Indians (MI) secured their second Women’s Premier League (WPL) title in three seasons, successfully defending 149 for 7 against Delhi Capitals (DC). ESPNcricinfo the eight-run victory sealed another heartbreak for DC, who finished as runners-up for the third consecutive year. For full match details.
Sciver-Brunt and Harmanpreet Lead MI’s Fightback
After being reduced to 14 for 2, MI relied on Nat Sciver-Brunt and captain Harmanpreet Kaur to rebuild their innings. The duo added a crucial 89-run partnership for the third wicket. Harmanpreet played a captain’s knock, smashing a 36-ball fifty to guide MI to a competitive total. Sciver-Brunt, who became the first player to score 1000 runs in WPL history, contributed 30 valuable runs before falling to DC’s disciplined bowling attack.
Kapp’s Heroics Almost Take DC Over the Line
Chasing 150, DC struggled early, losing wickets in quick succession. MI’s bowlers dismantled their top order, reducing them to 44 for 4. Jemimah Rodrigues tried to stabilize the innings, but her dismissal at 66 for 5 left DC in deep trouble.
Just when it seemed MI would cruise to victory, Marizanne Kapp reignited DC’s hopes. She played a counter-attacking knock of 40 off 26 balls, smashing boundaries at will. Partnering with Niki Prasad, Kapp brought DC within touching distance, reducing the equation to 23 off 12 balls. However, Sciver-Brunt struck at a crucial moment, dismissing Kapp and sealing MI’s triumph.
DC’s Bowling Prowess and MI’s Late Surge
Earlier, DC’s decision to bowl first paid off as Marizanne Kapp and Shikha Pandey exploited the fresh pitch. Kapp, who finished with outstanding figures of 2 for 11 in four overs, removed Hayley Matthews early and later dismissed Yastika Bhatia. DC had MI on the back foot at 20 for 2 in the powerplay.
However, Harmanpreet and Sciver-Brunt turned the game around, taking on DC’s spinners and accelerating the run rate. MI added 70 runs between the first and second strategic timeout, with Harmanpreet’s elegant stroke play standing out. To check detailed scorecards and stats, visit Cricbuzz. Despite DC’s late fightback, MI’s lower order chipped in with vital runs, ensuring they had a defendable total.
DC Fall Short Yet Again
Despite their strong bowling performance, DC’s batting collapse proved costly. This was the fourth instance in WPL history where a team defended a total below 150 successfully—three of those losses belong to DC. Once again, they faltered at the final hurdle, unable to convert their solid league-stage performances into a championship win.
Also Read : Delhi Capitals Aim for First WPL Title After Two Heartbreaking Finals