Harmanpreet Kaur's Mumbai Indians (MI) outmuscled Delhi Capitals at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai and registered a resounding eight-wicket win in their Women's Premier League (WPL) 2023 clash on Thursday to consolidate their position at the top of the points table. On the back of a exceptional bowling performance by Issy Wong and Saika Ishaque, Mumbai Indians strengthened their dominance and maintained their unbeaten run in the WPL 2023 so far.
Meanwhile, with three wins from the first three games, MI skipper Harmanpreet bagged a special achievement in the WPL 2023 as she emulated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni's rare IPL feat. Both the no.7 jersey holders are the first captains to win three consecutive matches in the league.
Harmanpreet would like to replicate the success of MI's men's team in IPL, who are the most successful in the league with a record five titlel. Meanwhile, CSK have tasted the IPL glory on four occasions.
Talking about the match, while hasing a below-par Delhi Capitals' target of 106, Yastika Bhatia and in-form Hayley Matthews combined for a 65-run alliance for the opening wickets for MI. Bhatia scored 41 runs off 32 balls with the help of eight fours while Matthews added 32 runs off 31 balls with help of six wickets. Nat Sciver-Brunt (23 not out off 19 balls) and Harmanpreet (11 not out off eight balls) then combined for an unbeaten partnership of 32 runs to take Mumbai Indians to the promised land.
For Delhi, Tara Norris and Alice Capsey bagged a wicket each while all other bowlers lacked venom against a dominant Mumbai batting line-up.
Earlier, Delhi skipper Meg Lanning won the toss and elected to bat first but her decision backfired quickly as the batting line-up collapsed like a pack of cards and the team could only manage a score of 105/10 in 18 overs. Lanning scored 43 runs off 41 balls with the help of five fours and top-scored for her team. Jemimah Rodrigues scored 23 runs in 18 balls as eight out of the 11 batters failed to score in double-digits.
For Mumbai, Ishaque finished her spell with figures of 3/13 in 3 overs while Wong hogged the limelight with a terrific spell of 3/10 in four overs. Matthews too bagged three wickets in four overs and conceded just 19 runs while Pooja Vastrakar chipped in with a wicket.
Captain Harmanpreet credited MI bowlers for the stunning win as she said," Today our bowlers did really well. They’re making my job easier. Whoever comes in is eager to bowl. When you have so many options, your job is so easy. Credit to our bowlers. Bowling according to the field is key in T20s and we’re able to do that. After the last game we all discussed that we bowled some bad balls.”
MI will next lock horns with UP Warriorz on March 12 while DC will face Gujarat Giants on March 11.
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