Bengaluru: The second edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) commenced with a nail-biting encounter that showcased the dramatic twists and turns of T20 cricket. In a match that went down to the wire, Mumbai Indians emerged victorious, chasing down a challenging target with a first-ball six from league debutant Sajana Sajeevan.
The highlight of the match was undoubtedly Sajeevan’s last-ball six over long-on when Mumbai needed 5 runs to win. However, it was the steady performance of skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, breaking her recent batting slump, that laid the foundation for the remarkable victory.
Harmanpreet’s well-paced 34-ball 55 and her crucial partnerships with Yastika Bhatia and Amelia Kerr kept Mumbai in the hunt. The Indian captain’s return to form is significant, especially after a lean patch during India’s recent home season, where she managed only 146 runs in nine T20 innings.
Entering the field at 50/2 after the powerplay, Harmanpreet played a crucial role as a middle-order enforcer, supporting her partners and taking on the opposition bowlers, including death-over specialist Annabel Sutherland. Her Player of the Match performance was credited to hard work with her batting coach and a well-deserved break after the series against Australia.
Delhi Capitals, despite a tentative start, managed to reach a competitive total of 171, thanks to a superb half-century from Alice Capsey, well-supported by skipper Meg Lanning and Jemimah Rodrigues. Shafali Varma’s early dismissal and Capsey’s boundary-laden innings were crucial moments in the match.
However, loose bowling at the death, compounded by some sloppy fielding, proved costly for Delhi Capitals. Despite a strong total on the board, Mumbai’s disciplined chase, led by Harmanpreet’s masterclass, resulted in a thrilling last-ball victory, setting the stage for an exciting season of Women’s Premier League action.
