South Africa's veteran all-rounder Marizanne Kapp gave her all in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 final but it was not enough to guide Delhi Capitals (DC) to their maiden title. Marizanne starred with her all-round show at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai on March 15 but Mumbai Indians (MI) led by Harmanpreet Kaur won the game by eight runs.
After the final, Marizanne was inconsolable. Alice Capsey and other teammates were trying to comfort her.
Magical new ball spell
The 35-year-old was lethal with the new ball and dismissed Hayley Matthews who managed to score just three runs from 10 balls. She was knocked over by a jaffa of a delivery. In her second over, she got the wicket of Yastika Bhatia as well. The wicketkeeper-batter went for a cover drive but found Jemimah Rodrigues inside the 30-yard circle.
She conceded just 11 runs from her quota of four overs. When her spell was finished, MI were 22/2 with Nat Sciver-Brunt and Harmanpreet Kaur new to the crease. They shared a third wicket partnership of 89 runs. Skipper Harmanpreet's 44-ball 66 helped MI post a total of 149/7 on the board.
Marizanne's blitz cut short
In the run chase, Marizanne came in to bat after Annabel Sutherland's wicket. DC were in trouble having lost four wickets for 44 runs in eight overs. Marizanne accelerated after Jemimah Rodrigues departed. She took on Nat in the 13th over hitting her for a six and a four. In the next over, she hit Matthews for a couple of fours. In the 16th over, she targetted left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque hitting for a six and two fours. But Nat had the last laugh as she got Marizanne caught at long-off by Matthews. She scored 40 runs from 26 balls including five fours and two sixes.
When Marizanne was dismissed, DC needed 27 runs from 14 balls. DC managed to get to 141/9 and lost the match by eight runs.
Lanning after 3 final losses in a row
DC captain Meg Lanning was disappointed after third final loss in a low. She rued not getting enough partnerships in the run chase.
"Disappointing for us, we didn't quite get it together with the bat. I thought chasing 150 was a pretty good target for us, one more partnership for a couple of overs might have given us a chance but very proud of the group," she said in the post-match presentation.