Nat Sciver Brunt’s excellent bowling effort and Harmanpreet Kaur’s timely half-century powered Mumbai Indians (MI) to their second Women’s Premier League (WPL) title as they beat Delhi Capitals (DC) by eight runs, at the Brabourne Stadium on Saturday.
Chasing a competitive 150 for victory, Delhi Capitals were always on shaky ground and it was only the efforts of Mumbai lass Jemimah Rodrigues (30) and Marizanne Kapp (40) that helped them get close to the home team’s target. Niki Prasad (25) made a valiant effort towards the end but it was in vain as MI held their nerve to pocket the WPL crown.
DC were restricted to 141/9 in 20 overs as Mumbai topped them in a repeat of the 2023 WPL final.
It was Nat Sciver-Brunt’s match-turning 18th over that changed the complexion of the game. It saw Kapp departing after getting caught at long off by Hayley Mathews and the very next ball Shikha Pandey was bowled as MI had one hand on the trophy.
Nat Sciver-Brunt and Shabnim Ismail gave Mumbai Indians a great start in defence of 149 as they got the back of openers Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma respectively.
DC skipper Lanning was bowled by Sciver-Brunt for 13 while Verma was leg before to Ismail for 4.
Amelia Kerr then sent Jess Jonassen packing as she was caught by MI wicket-keeper Yastika Bhatia for 13 as DC slipped to 37/3.
It didn’t take too long for the fourth wicket to fall as Saika Ishaque had Annabel Sutherland stumped by Bhatia for just two.
At 44/4 after the completion of eight overs, DC were looking down the barrell in chase of 150 to win the title.
The Capitals moved at a snail’s pace as they reached 58/2 in 10 overs and a required rate of 9.20 staring at them.
When Jemimah Rodrigues, who was waging a lone battle, fell caught and bowled by a resolute Amelia Kerr, the fireworks went off at the Brabourne.
With Sarah Bryce getting run out in a mix up with Marizanne Kapp, DC were tottering at 84/6 in 13 overs.
Earlier, Harmanpreet Kaur’s resilient half-century helped Mumbai Indians set up a competitive target for Delhi Capitals.
Kaur’s 66 was the highlight of the MI innings as the rest of the batters played blow hot and blow cold.
MI were off to a sedate start with just three runs coming in the first two overs. Marizanne Kapp then got into the act as she snuffed out Mumbai’s openers Yastika Bhatia and Hayley Mathews.
Mathews was castled by Kapp with a beauty of a delivery outside off stump that nipped back in and dislodged her bails.
At 5/1, MI were in trouble and it only got worse when Yastika was sent back by Kapp after being caught by Jemimah Rodrigues in the deep. Kapp was on a roll and turning on the heat.
After 10 overs, Mumbai Indians were 53/2 with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Nat Sciver-Brunt rebuilding their innings.
Kaur was in a punishing mood in the 11th over as she smashed Jess Jonassen for three consecutive fours that got the momentum going for the home side.
The captain then went on an onslaught against new bowler Shikha Pandey slamming the first ball for a four.
She was unstoppable in the 13th over as she took Minnu Mani to the cleaners with two bo`undaries and in the process bringing up her half-century in just 34 balls with a 150-plus strike rate.
Sciver-Brunt’s innings of 30 came to an end with Minnu Mani snapping her up at square leg off Shree Charani.
Mumbai were in a spot bother at that point with Kaur holding all the aces going into the final five overs of the innings.
Amelia Kerr didn’t hang around for too long as Jonassen had her lapped up by Shafali Verma at mid off from a tossed up ball.
Jonassen had Sajana Sajeevan plumb in front as Mumbai Indians were down to 112/5 with fours overs to play.
G Kamalini’s cameo of 10 included a six off Shree Charani but the latter bounced right back to get her opponent stumped off the fourth ball of the 19th over.
MI had hurtled to 132/7 and were in danger of ending with a below-150 total.
Amanjot Kaur cracked two fours off the 20th over bowled by Shikha Pandey as Mumbai Indians finished with 149/7 in 20 overs.
Mumbai Indians celebrate their title win at Brabourne Stadium | X/ @wplt20
Although not a huge score, the home team had something to defend to clinch their second WPL title.
