Mumbai Indians Team Clinches Victory in Women's Premier League

Mumbai Indians Team Clinches Victory in Women's Premier League

Mumbai Indians win the first Women’s Premier League by 7 wickets in Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai. With 131 runs in the first innings, Delhi Capitals battled MI in the final match. Mumbai Indians, who were chasing the mark, defeated DC in 19.3 overs. Nat Sciver-perfect Brunt's fifty helped MI to victory. Sciver-Brunt scored 60 runs off 55 balls in an unbroken effort that featured seven fours. Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain, performed significant 37-off-39-ball innings with five fours during this time. 

For Delhi, Jess Jonassen and Radha Yadav each claimed a wicket. Meg Lanning led the way for DC with a knock of 35 runs off 29 balls, packed with five fours, as they initially reached 131/9 in 20 overs. But a freak run-out cost DC her wicket. Shikha Pandey and Radha, the tailenders, put forth a solid last partnership to stay undefeated despite losing wickets. With three fours and a six, Shikha Pandey scored 27 runs off 17 balls. With two sixes and two fours, Radha scored 27 off 12 balls. 

The Delhi Capitals, who chose to bat first, lost wickets in quick order after Isabelle Wong claimed three early victims. Hayley Matthews then took three further wickets. Melie Kerr later claimed two more wickets, but Radha Yadav and Shikha Pandey were still standing at 27 each, leading their team to a score of 131/9. The Mumbai Indians also suffered some early wicket losses, but Nat Sciver-Brunt and Harmanpreet performed a game-winning knock to help Mumbai win the tournament's first trophy. Additionally, Hayley Matthews won the Purple Cap with three wickets.

WPL Final Highlights

Play

• Meg Lanning, the captain of the Delhi Capitals, chooses to bat against the Mumbai Indians after winning the toss in the Women's Premier League 2023 championship game at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium.

• Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma start for Delhi Capitals in the WPL 2023 championship game, with Nat Sciver-Brunt delivering the opening over for MI.

• Shafali Verma makes up for her poor performance in the first over by smacking a magnificent six off Issy Wong's ball. (1.1 overs)

• On Issy Wong's very next ball, after hitting a six, Shafali Verma scores a four. (1.2 overs)

• Wong redeems herself after being destroyed for a six and a four by removing Shafali Verma for an eleven. Verma attempts a powerful hit, but Melie Kerr makes an outstanding catch. (1.3 overs)

• In the same over, Issy Wong strikes again and takes Alice Capsey’s wicket. Amanjot Kaur makes an excellent catch after Wong bowls a full throw once more as Capsey attempts a hard hit. In the same over, Mumbai Indians get two wickets. (1.5 overs)

• After three consecutive fours off Nat Sciver Brunt's bowling, Meg Lanning drastically changes the game's momentum. Mumbai Indians are searching for more wickets, while DC is making significant progress in the game. (2.3 overs)

• Issy Wong gives the Mumbai Indians another victory with Jemimah Rodrigues’s wicket. (4.2 overs)

• Marizanne Kapp hits a boundary off a ball from Saika Ishaque. (9.1 overs)

• After Minnu Mani and Jess Jonassen in prior overs, Hayley Matthews removes Taniya Bhatia from the pitch. (16 overs)

• With a big six off an Issy Wong delivery, Shikha Pandey gives Delhi Capitals some hope. (18.1 overs)

• Shikha Pandey smashes two consecutive boundaries off an Issy Wong delivery after hitting a six. (18.3 overs)

• In the same over, Hayley Matthews hits two boundaries off Marizanne Kapp. (1 over)

• Marizanne Kapp bowls an efficient over, giving Delhi Caps some optimism. (14 overs)

• Nat Sciver-Brunt hits a superb four off an Alice Capsey delivery as she nears her half-century. (16.4 overs)

• Nat Sciver-Brunt scores a boundary to reach her fifty-first run in 52 deliveries. (18.1 overs)

• Mumbai Indians defeat Delhi Capitals by seven wickets in Women's Premier League 2023, thanks in part to a magnificent boundary from Nat Smith off an Alice Capsey delivery. (19.3 overs)

Women’s Premier League First Edition

There was some concern about in-stadium attendance when the Women's Premier League started. Although there was no assurance of attendance, it was hoped that free admission for women and low ticket prices would help sell out the event. Regardless of ticket prices, asking Mumbai residents to travel daily to distant locations for women's cricket seemed unreasonable. It appeared that there weren't enough seats in Brabourne Stadium by Sunday, March 26. The diversity of the supporters, though, was what really jumped out.

Young girls in their club-cricket uniforms, housewives who play recreationally, students who have travelled from nearby towns like Pune and Kolhapur, and even latecomers in search of an undesired or unsold ticket could be seen outside the venues. Parents with young children were also seen travelling to the venues in trains and buses.

Even on weekdays, the stands were packed, which was unusual for women's cricket in India and added to the atmosphere. Both traditional and modern chanting may be heard in the Mumbai stadium. The cheer from that section alone would let you know where Ellyse Perry was fielding during Royal Challengers games.

Finally, in the inaugural Women's Premier League, Mumbai Indians take home the trophy and the fans' hearts.