Synopsis
In the thrilling final of the 2025 WPL, Mumbai Indians' captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored a brilliant 66 runs, leading her team to a total of 149/7 against Delhi Capitals at Brabourne Stadium. Despite a strong start from DC's bowlers, MI's partnership held firm, resulting in a memorable clash.Key Takeaways
- Harmanpreet Kaur scored 66 runs for MI.
- MI posted 149/7 in the WPL final.
- DC's bowlers applied early pressure.
- MI's partnership was key to their score.
- DC conceded 45 runs in the last five overs.
Mumbai, March 15 (NationPress) Captain Harmanpreet Kaur displayed exceptional timing in her batting, leading the score with 66 runs as Mumbai Indians reached 149/7 in their 20 overs during the 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL) final against Delhi Capitals at the Brabourne Stadium on Saturday.
On a pristine pitch, Marizanne Kapp showcased her bowling prowess to apply pressure with the new ball, allowing DC to dominate early on. However, Harmanpreet made a remarkable comeback, striking nine fours and two sixes in her innings of 66 off 44 balls, blending precise timing with powerful shots after carefully evaluating the pitch conditions.
She formed a formidable partnership, counter-attacking with Nat Sciver-Brunt in an 89-run stand for the third wicket, where Nat contributed 30 off 28 balls. Unfortunately, the rest of the MI batting lineup faltered, as the 2023 champions managed to post the highest total recorded in a WPL final. DC, however, would feel let down after conceding 45 runs in the final five overs.
Choosing to bowl first, DC maintained relentless pressure from both ends, thanks to excellent bowling from Marizanne and Shikha Pandey. Their persistence paid off when Marizanne delivered a wobble-seam delivery that knocked down Hayley Matthews for just three runs.
Yastika Bhatia secured MI's first boundary with a drive off Marizanne, but on the very next ball, she mishit the slice, allowing Jemimah Rodrigues to execute a stunning catch just above the ground, dismissing her for eight. MI concluded the power-play at a mere 20/2, marking their second-lowest total in this phase in WPL history.
With DC’s bowlers accurately hitting their lines, MI struggled to find gaps, resulting in many balls being directed straight to fielders who excelled at saving runs. However, from the ninth over, Nat signaled a change in tempo by striking two boundaries off N Shree Charani.
Harmanpreet upped the ante by smashing Annabel Sutherland for six and then delivering a hat-trick of boundaries against Jess Jonassen in a solid 11th over. She welcomed Minnu Mani by skillfully pulling and flicking the ball to score two boundaries, reaching her half-century in just 32 balls.
The pair added one more boundary each before Nat was caught sweeping to square leg off Charani in the 15th over, scoring 30 off 28 balls. Following this, DC capitalized on MI’s declining momentum as Jess quickly dismissed Amelia Kerr and Sajeevan Sajana, while Harmanpreet was caught at deep cover off Sutherland’s bowling, and G Kamalini was stumped off N Shree Charani. Nonetheless, boundaries from Amanjot Kaur and Sanskriti Gupta helped MI finish just one run shy of the 150-mark.
Brief scores:
Mumbai Indians 149/7 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 66, Nat Sciver-Brunt 30; Marizanne Kapp 2-11, Jess Jonassen 2-26) against Delhi Capitals
