WPL 2024: Delhi Capitals avenge opening loss with 29-run win over Mumbai Indians

Delhi Capitals performed like a well-oiled machine to hammer Mumbai Indians by 29 runs and extend their domination at the top of the points table.

With their fourth straight win in the WPL 2024. This was Mumbai Indians’ first-ever loss while chasing a target in the Women’s Premier League.

After being invited to bat, Delhi Capitals captain Meg Lanning and star batter Jemimah Rodrigues hit impressive fifties to help the hosts post a mammoth total of 192 for four against Mumbai Indians. Mumbai never looked in control of the 193-run chase as the tourists finished at 163 for 8 despite Amanjot Kaur’s 42 off 27 and Hayley Matthews’ 29 off 17. This was the defending champions’ second defeat in five matches and their second against DC in WPL history. This was Delhi’s fourth consecutive win, and they moved two points ahead of Mumbai, who had eight points from five matches.

DC therefore consolidated their lead at the top with the victory, which will come as a relief to the hosts, who had suffered a devastating last-ball loss to the MI in the tournament’s opening game. Marizanne Kapp returned after missing the previous game and did the damage in the powerplay, taking two wickets — Yastika Bhatia (6) and Harmanpreet Kaur (6), while fellow pacer Shikha Pandey cleaned up Nat Sciver-Brunt (5) to leave MI on shaky ground.

Opener Matthews scored a strokeful 17-ball 29 before being caught by Alice Capsey off left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen (3/21), and 19-year-old pacer Titas Sadhu removed Amelia Kerr (17) as MI lost half their side in the ninth over. The 23-year-old Amanjot smashed seven fours on her way to 42, providing some optimism, but once she was castled by Jonassen, the run-rate continued to pile up, making the task too difficult.

RODRIGUES LATE FIREWORKS LIFT DC

While Lanning led the innings and forged vital partnerships with a 38-ball 53 that featured six boundaries and two sixes, showcasing her skill, Jemimah Rodrigues provided the late fireworks, smashing 8 fours and 3 sixes in her 33-ball innings to help Delhi Capitals get close to 200 runs. Shafali Verma (28) and Alice Capsey (19) helped raise the team’s total. Pooja Vastrakar was the Mumbai Indians’ leading bowler, going 4-0-20-1. Other wickets were shared by Saika Ishaque (1/29), Shabnim Ismail (1/46) and Hayley Matthews (1/23).

Despite the thrilling performance on the field, the match witnessed a lackluster response in terms of attendance at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The Delhi Capitals’ openers, Lanning and Shafali, set the tone for an aggressive innings that targeted the bowlers. Shafali, who returned after missing two games, led the pace attack, while Lanning demonstrated her striking ability.

The duo laid a solid platform before Capsey and Jemimah contributed important runs to help the Delhi Capitals reach a challenging total. With the bowlers under pressure, Delhi Capitals’ aggressive approach helped them reach 100 runs in the 12th over. Lanning was dismissed after hitting fifty and Jemimah then took over, boosting the scoring rate with a flurry of boundaries before hitting 50 in the 19th over with a six off Sciver-Brunt. Finally, Delhi Capitals finished their innings with a daunting score of 192 for four, leaving the Mumbai Indians with a big goal to chase.