The much-anticipated Women’s Premier League (WPL) kicked off in electrifying fashion with defending champions Mumbai Indians edging past Delhi Capitals by a mere four wickets in a nail-biting last-ball finish. The match, held at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, displayed exceptional batting performances and a nerve-wracking finale that kept the audience on the edge of their seats.
Mumbai’s Bumpy Chase Starts Strong
Opting to field first, Mumbai Indians got off to a dream start, restricting Delhi Capitals to a modest score of 25 runs within the Powerplay. Shabnim Ismail and Saika Ishaque shared the bowling honors, conceding only three runs in the initial two overs. The pressure paid off as the dangerous Shafali Verma was dismissed early by Ismail, setting Delhi back on their heels.
Capsey and Lanning Build Momentum for Delhi
Despite the early setback, Alice Capsey and Meg Lanning steadied the ship for Delhi, taking the attack to Amelia Kerr and Sathyamoorthy Keerthana. The duo stitched together a crucial 64-run partnership, propelling Delhi to a comfortable position at the halfway mark with 65 runs on the board.
Mumbai Fights Back with Crucial Wickets
Nat Sciver-Brunt provided the breakthrough for Mumbai, dismissing the well-settled Lanning with a clever slower ball. However, Capsey continued her destructive knock, reaching a well-deserved fifty off just 36 balls. Jemimah Rodrigues joined the party later, adding a quickfire 42 runs alongside Capsey.
Mumbai on the Brink, Sajana Saves the Day
Despite losing key wickets towards the end, Delhi managed to post a competitive total of 171 runs on the board. Chasing the target, Mumbai Indians lost their star opener Hayley Matthews early. However, Yastika Bhatia and Nat Sciver-Brunt stabilized the innings with a crucial partnership before Sciver-Brunt departed.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur then took center stage, anchoring the chase with a gritty fifty. With wickets falling at regular intervals, the match went down to the wire. Needing five runs off the last ball, debutant Sajeevan Sajana displayed nerves of steel, smashing a six-over long-on to seal a dramatic victory for Mumbai Indians.
Key Players Shine
Harmanpreet Kaur’s fighting knock of 55 runs and Yastika Bhatia’s well-paced 57 were crucial contributions for Mumbai. Debutant Sajana’s last-ball six will undoubtedly be etched in WPL history. For Delhi, Alice Capsey’s explosive 75 and Jemimah Rodrigues’ quickfire 42 kept their team in the game.
A Thrilling Start to the WPL
The opening match of the WPL set the tone for an exciting tournament, showcasing the immense talent and competitive spirit of the players. With more nail-biting encounters expected in the coming weeks, the WPL promises to be a treat for cricket fans worldwide.
Scores in Brief:
Delhi Capitals 171/5 in 20 overs (Alice Capsey 75, Jemimah Rodrigues 42; Nat-Sciver Brunt 2-33, Amelia Kerr 2-43)
Mumbai Indians 173/6 in 20 overs (Yastika Bhatia 57, Harmanpreet Kaur 55; Alice Capsey 2-23, Arundhati Reddy 2-27)
Result: Mumbai Indians by 4 wickets
