Mumbai, March 16: Mumbai Indians secured their second Women’s Premier League (WPL) title with a hard-fought eight-run victory over Delhi Capitals in the final at Brabourne Stadium on March 15. This marks Delhi’s third consecutive defeat in a WPL final, adding to their heartbreak.
After being put in to bat first, Mumbai struggled early as West Indies opener Hayley Matthews was bowled for just three runs by South African pacer Marizanne Kapp, who delivered an exceptional spell of 2-11 in her four overs. Mumbai’s other opener, Yastika Bhatia, was also dismissed early, leaving the defending champions in trouble.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur then anchored the innings with a brilliant 66 off 48 balls, stabilizing Mumbai alongside Nat Sciver-Brunt. The pair added 89 runs in 10 overs for the third wicket, setting the platform for a competitive total. However, once Sciver-Brunt (30) fell to Shree Charani, Mumbai’s middle order struggled to maintain momentum, finishing at 149-7 in 20 overs.
In response, Delhi Capitals got off to a disastrous start. Openers Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma were dismissed within the first three overs. The collapse continued with Jess Jonassen falling in the powerplay and Annabel Sutherland following soon after in the eighth over.
Delhi’s hopes rested on Jemimah Rodrigues, whose quick-fire 30 gave Delhi a lifeline. However, she was dismissed by Amelia Kerr after mistiming a shot, which marked a turning point in the chase.
Kapp attempted to revive Delhi’s chances with a fighting 40, but her dismissal to Sciver-Brunt in the 16th over sealed the fate of the match. Sciver-Brunt then bowled Shikha Pandey the very next ball, dismantling Delhi’s chase.
Mumbai’s disciplined bowling attack, led by Sciver-Brunt’s 3-30, ensured that Delhi fell short by eight runs, handing Mumbai their second WPL title after their triumph in the inaugural 2023 season.
“It was a team effort,” said Mumbai captain Harmanpreet Kaur after the match. “We knew we had to fight till the last ball, and the bowlers executed the plan perfectly.”
Despite Kapp’s all-round performance, Delhi’s wait for a WPL title continues. Meanwhile, Mumbai’s victory reaffirms their dominance in the competition, setting the stage for future rivalries.
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