MI beat DC by 7 wickets to lift WPL trophy

Mumbai: A late flourish from England all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt (60 not out) helped Mumbai Indians beat Delhi Capitals by seven wickets in a low-scoring summit clash to become champions of the inaugural Women’s Premier League here on Sunday.

In front of a partisan crowd that filled the Brabourne Stadium here to the brim, Mumbai Indians chased down the target of 131 with three balls to spare to lift the trophy.

Opting to bat first, Delhi Capitals suffered a collapse to be reduced to 79 for 9 in 16 overs but posted a respectable total of 131 for 9, thanks to a 52-run partnership for the unbroken 10th wicket between Shikha Pandey (27 not out) and Radha Yadav (27 not out).

It was not an easy run chase for MI but they eventually crossed the line, reaching 134 for 3 in 19.3 overs, with Sciver-Brunt and captain Harmanpreet (37) playing crucial roles.

Sciver-Brunt (60 not out from 55 balls, 7x4), also the Player of the Final, struck her third fifty and finished second behind DC captain Meg Lanning (345) in run-scorers’ chart in the WPL with 332 runs.

Harmanpreet (37 from 39 balls, 5x4s) and Sciver-Brunt joined forces when MI were precariously placed at 23 for 2 in the fourth over, and combined their batting prowess to soak the pressure and add 72 runs for the third wicket.

MI needed 45 runs from the last five overs though they had eight wickets in hand then. Sciver-Brunt was 28 off 38 balls at that stage but she struck a flurry of boundaries to help her side cross the line.

In the process, Mumbai Indians recorded their second win over Delhi in three meetings this season, with their bowlers producing a stunning show in the first half.

MI made a shaky start, with Yastika Bhatia (4) hitting straight to deep midwicket for the fourth wicket of the final on a full toss, off Radha Yadav. Jess Jonassen dealt the second blow to Mumbai with Hayley Matthews (13 of 12 balls, 3x4s) chipping one straight to short midwicket.

Earlier, Shikha Pandey and Radha Yadav fought back with a counter-attacking 52-run unbeaten stand for the 10th wicket, lifting Delhi to 131 for 9. Delhi Capitals were off to a rocky start, collapsing from 74 for 3 in the 11th over to 79 for 9 after 16, thanks to devastating show from overseas bowlers Hayley Matthews (4-2-5-3), Isabelle Wong (4-0-42-3) and Amelia Kerr (4-0-18-2).

However, the 52-run stand between Shikha (27 not out from 17 balls) and Radha Yadav (27 not out from 12 balls) took them across the 100-mark and gave them a fighting

chance.

Shikha hit three fours and one six in her knock, Radha smashed two boundaries and as many maximums.

Earlier, Matthews, Wong and Kerr had shared a total eight wickets between them to put Mumbai in a strong position.

While the Caribbean all-rounder Matthews took her wickets tally to 16 - highest in the tournament alongside UP Warriorz’ Sophie Ecclestone - Wong and Kerr also finished at 15 wickets each.

Saika Ishaque failed to get any breakthrough and ended up with an impressive 15 wickets too.

The final was off to a dramatic start with MI claiming the first three wickets off full-tosses from Wong.

The first two decisions were ruled against the batters by the third umpire.

Shafali Verma (11 off 4 balls, 1x4s, 1x6s) began with a six over long-on and a four on the next ball in the second over from Wong, sliced over backward point to beat the third man. However, the Delhi dasher was caught at point by Kerr off a full toss from the English bowler which was waist high.