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DC vs MI Highlights: Harmanpreet's MI Defend 149 Against Capitals To Lift Second WPL Title

Arnav Chopra

WPL Final (Source: @wplt20/X.comWPL Final (Source: @wplt20/X.com

In a hard-fought game at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, Mumbai Indians Women edged past Delhi Capitals Women to lift their second Women’s Premier League (WPL) title. Mumbai defended 149 by eight runs as Nat Sciver-Brunt picked three wickets whilst skipper Harmanpreet Kaur scored a fantastic 66.

Here’s how DC vs MI final panned out in Mumbai:

Kapp Rocks Mumbai Early Before Harmanpreet, Nat Sciver Stitch 89-Run Partnership

It was a roaring start for Delhi Capitals in the final of the WPL 2023 against Mumbai Indians, as Marizanne Kapp sent both the opposition openers packing inside the first five overs with just 14 on the board. Hayley Matthews was knocked over for just three, while Yastika Bhatia was caught brilliantly by Jemimah Rodrigues as Kapp swung the ball both ways early on in the powerplay.

She completed her four-over spell in just the first seven overs of the game, giving away just 11 runs and grabbing two crucial wickets early on. Mumbai then needed some strong partnerships, which came through the hands of experienced Natalie Sciver-Brunt and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur.

The duo batted decently to find regular boundaries, as they kept MI in the game. Harmanpreet in particular was fine changing gears accordingly, while Nat Sciver-Brunt was struggling initially.

Mumbai reached the 50-run mark in 9.4 overs as the duo combined to stitch a crucial 89-run partnership for the third wicket, consuming just 62 deliveries. Nat departed in the 15th over for 30 from 28 deliveries, while she struck four boundaries as the lone change by DC for this game, Nallapureddy Charani did the business.

Tight Bowling For DC Restrict MI To 149 Despite Skipper Harman's Valiant 66

After the departure of Brunt, Mumbai were three down for 103 after the conclusion of 14.5 overs. They then needed some big blows in the end to get them to a good total, which was provided by skipper Kaur through her powerful innings. However, as she was looking to change gears, her leg injury caused some problems which hindered her ability to strike big.

On the other hand, wickets kept tumbling as Amelia Kerr and Sajeevan Sanjana were sent back to the hut by spinner Jess Jonassen. Mumbai, all of a sudden, were six down for 112 in 16 overs as a double blow by Jonassen caused further problems.

Soon, skipper Harmanpreet fell to the pressure as they lost their sixth wicket for 118 in the 18th over but not before scoring a blazing 66 (44) with nine boundaries and two sixes. With less than three overs remaining in the game, Mumbai somehow raced to 149 for seven after the completion of 20 overs, with G. Kamalini 10 (7) and Amanjot Kaur 14* (7) providing necessary push.

From the bowling line-up, Jonassen, Charani and Kapp were the pick of the bowlers with two wickets apiece.

MI Bowlers Stun DC To Send Half The Side Packing For 66

Chasing a moderate target of 150, which looked slightly below par on this surface, the Capitals lost their way early on in their innings with wickets tumbling one after the other. Skipper Meg Lanning was the first one to be knocked over by pacer Nat Sciver-Brunt for 13, following which her partner Shafali Verma was trapped in front by Shabnim Ismail for just 4 as Delhi were reduced to 17 for two after the end of three overs.

The target of 150 suddenly started looking a lot bigger as Jess Jonassen was joined by Jemimah Rodrigues in the middle. While Jemimah found few boundaries, Jonassen could not get past 13 when the spinner Amelia Kerr dismissed her in the 7th over, halting them to 37/3 at that stage.

Soon after, Annabel Sutherland (2) came down the track on the final delivery of the 8th over against Saika Ishaque, only to be stumped by a mile by keeper Yastika Bhatia, calling for potential trouble.

However, Rodrigues at the other end looked quite confident, pounding two consecutive boundaries against Amelia Kerr in the 11th over. But was then dismissed by the same bowler off her own bowling for 30, and all of a sudden they were five down for 66 in 11 overs, with 150 looking way out of grasp.

Powerful Mumbai Lift Second WPL Title As Delhi Falls Short By 8 Runs

After Rodrigues’ departure, Delhi needed a strong partnership. It was none other than South African, Marizanne Kapp, who held her fort high when the trouble arrived. However, at the other end, Sarah Bryce was run out in the 13th over, with Delhi six down for 83.

Nonetheless, it did not deter Kapp from putting runs on the board as she found boundaries after boundaries to take Delhi past the 100-run mark in 15.2 overs.

Kapp played a fine 40-run knock from 26 deliveries with five boundaries and two sixes to take her side to 123 in 17.6 overs. That is when she had to depart as she was caught by Hayley Matthews at long-off, but did a great job pulling Delhi back into the game after potentially being out of it at the halfway stage.

On the very next delivery after Kapp’s departure, Shikha Pandey was cleaned up by Sciver-Brunt, getting two in two deliveries, putting Mumbai ahead in the game. The seesaw battle did not stop as Minnu Mani found a boundary on her very first delivery, but was then dismissed on the next one by Hayley Matthews, with nine down for 128 in 18.2 overs.

The final few overs were tense as 22 were required off the final 10 deliveries with just one wicket remaining. Mumbai were far ahead in the game, but Niki Prasad came back crunching with a boundary and a six, putting 25 not out on the board. In the final over, 14 were required and Nat Sciver did what she is known for, giving away just five as Mumbai defended their 149 to lift the WPL title for the second time, by just eight runs, in the 10th finale.