Mumbai beat Delhi to clinch second WPL title / Photo: © AFP
Mumbai beat Delhi to clinch second WPL title
Mumbai Indians won their second Women's Premier League title on Saturday after a sharp performance from their bowlers and a solid knock from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur helped them beat Delhi Capitals by eight runs.
The champions also fended off a valiant effort by Marizanne Kapp (40) in the second innings to secure a victory in the final over of the match at the Brabourne stadium in Mumbai.
Mumbai started the final off on a rough note, after Delhi captain Meg Lanning won the toss and elected to bowl first, with Kapp striking to leave them reeling at 15-2 at the end of the fifth over.
But Kaur quickly picked up the slack, stitching together an 89-run partnership with Nat Sciver-Brunt (30), before the latter fell in the 15th over.
Amelia Kerr (2) and Sajeevan Sajana (0) were then dismissed quickly, while Kaur (66) herself departed in the 17th over. Some smart batting from Amanjot Kaur (14 not out) helped Mumbai finish with a flourish and post 149-7.
Delhi didn't get off to a great start either in their chase, with openers Lanning (13) and Shafali Verma (4) falling quickly to leave them at 17-2 at the end of the third over.
Jemimah Rodrigues helped them rebuild, hitting 30 runs off 21 balls, but was dismissed by Kerr in the 11th over.
The mantle then fell to Kapp, who valiantly smacked 40 runs off 26 balls, before falling in the 18th over.
While Niki Prasad offered a glimmer of hope in the final few overs, hitting 25 runs off 23 balls, Mumbai ultimately fell short on 141-9.
Kaur, also named the player of the match, called Mumbai's win a "great team effort".
"We fought till the last ball, all about being there and doing the right things again and again," she said.
Lanning said that while Delhi had a good season, they could not "get over the line".
"Another partnership for a couple of overs might have given us a chance. We are all pretty disappointed."
M.Wilson--TNT
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