The inaugural season of the Women’s Premier League has been run and won, with the Mumbai Indians claiming the championship courtesy of a seven-wicket win over Delhi Capitals in the final.
The Capitals were only able to make 131/9 after their 20 overs. Australian and Delhi Captain Meg Lanning led from the front grinding her way to 35 at the top of the order. A middle order collapse from the Capitals saw them drop to 75/7, Radha Yadav was able to find her feet to gather momentum to surge late peeling off 27 off 12 balls to give Delhi a fighting chance.
Mumbai had an early slip up when Yastika Bhatia was dismissed by Yadav for four. The wicket brought Nat Sciver-Brunt to the crease. The England international used her experience to guide Mumbai to seven wickets win, with three balls to spare. Sciver-Brunt was able to put on 60 off just 55 balls which included seven fours.
Mumbai's star players
Mumbai Indians West Indian import was Hayley Matthews was adjudged player of the tournament, taking 16 wickets over 10 matches. Meg Lanning was able to secure the honour of most runs for the tournament, with 345 runs at an average of just under 50.
Mumbai's road to the final
The women led by Harmanpreet Kaur had a great start to the season, winning their first five games before a loss to the Up Warriorz by five wickets in Match 15.
Back-to-back losses were on the cards for the Mumbai based side as they dropped points against the Delhi Capitals by nine wickets just two days later. Delhi's Marizanne Kapp shone bright with the ball to take 2/13 off four overs to see her side over the line.
Two losses for the season was enough for Mumbai to claim second spot overall just behind the Delhi Capital.
Mumbai were able to avenge their loss against the Warriorz in the semi-final. Sciver-Brunt was able to swashbuckle her way to 72 off 38 balls to help her side post 182 after 20 overs. 20-year-old Issy Wong was destructive with ball in hand taking 4/15 which included a hat-trick, steering her side bowl the Warriorz out for 110 for an emphatic 72 run win.
The Mumbai Indians have claimed its sixth championship across the men’s and women’s competitions. The men won their first title in 2013 under the captaincy of Ricky Pointing and Rohit Sharma.
Mumbai were able to defeat the Chennai Super Kings in the final by 23 runs, Keiron Pollard hit a match-winning 60 to secure the 23 run win at Eden Gardens.
Raw emotions 🎥
— Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) March 26, 2023
A moment to savor for @mipaltan 👌 👌 #TATAWPL | #Final | #DCvMI pic.twitter.com/wdf7t07NMJ
