WPL 2025: All-round Performance Sees Delhi Capitals Defeat Mumbai Indians by Nine Wickets
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Synopsis
In a decisive match of the Women's Premier League 2025, Delhi Capitals showcased their dominance by defeating Mumbai Indians by nine wickets. Meg Lanning led the charge with an impressive 60 runs, while their bowlers restricted MI to just 123 runs. DC chased down the target comfortably, highlighting their strong performance in the tournament.
Key Takeaways
- Delhi Capitals displayed a strong all-round performance.
- Meg Lanning scored 60 runs, marking her second fifty of the season.
- DC's bowlers, particularly Jess Jonassen and Minnu Mani, were instrumental in limiting MI's score.
- Mumbai struggled to build partnerships and lost wickets at crucial moments.
- DC's chase was marked by aggressive batting and strategic play.
Bengaluru, Feb 28 (NationPress) Delhi Capitals maintained their impressive form in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025, overpowering Mumbai Indians by nine wickets at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. With a stellar performance from Meg Lanning (60 off 49) and a disciplined bowling effort, DC chased down a target of 124 with 35 balls remaining.
After winning the toss and deciding to bat first, the Mumbai Indians faced challenges in building momentum against a resolute Delhi Capitals bowling unit. Despite a decent start from Yastika Bhatia and Hayley Matthews, MI's innings stalled. Jess Jonassen (3-25) and Minnu Mani (3-17) spearheaded the bowling attack, keeping Mumbai under constant pressure.
Mumbai began with promise, with Yastika Bhatia flicking Marizanne Kapp for a boundary in the first over, and Matthews driving smoothly through the off-side. However, Shikha Pandey struck in the sixth over, catching Bhatia (11 off 10) off an edge that was secured by Sarah Bryce behind the stumps.
At 35/1 following the power-play, Harmanpreet Kaur and Nat Sciver-Brunt were tasked with stabilizing the innings. Yet, Annabel Sutherland’s tight bowling maintained the scoring rate, leading to the pivotal dismissal of Hayley Matthews (22 off 25), who misplayed a shot to Shafali Verma at mid-off.
Titas Sadhu and Jonassen shifted the momentum in DC’s favor. Sadhu nearly dismissed Harmanpreet early, but a fortunate edge raced for four. The Mumbai captain tried to accelerate, hitting Jonassen for a six, but the left-arm spinner had the last laugh, trapping her LBW for 22 off 16.
With MI faltering at 93/4 in the 15th over, their middle-order collapsed under pressure. Nat Sciver-Brunt (18 off 22) offered a straightforward return catch to Jonassen, who struck again shortly after to dismiss Kamalini, further complicating MI’s woes. Minnu Mani’s double strike, taking out Sajana (5) and Amelia Kerr (17), ensured Mumbai couldn’t recover. A few late boundaries from Amanjot Kaur (12 off 9) helped MI finish at a disappointing 123/9 in 20 overs.
With a manageable target, Delhi Capitals began explosively as their captain, Meg Lanning, and Shafali Verma dismantled Mumbai’s bowlers during the PowerPlay. Shabnim Ismail started aggressively, nearly trapping Lanning LBW in the opening over, but a review confirmed impact outside off.
Lanning responded with flair, driving Ismail for back-to-back boundaries through point and gully, while Shafali quickly found her rhythm, launching Nat Sciver-Brunt for a six over square leg, followed by two crisp boundaries.
Despite Ismail tightening her line in her second over, Lanning skillfully found gaps, executing an on-drive and cutting elegantly to keep the scoreboard moving. By the end of the PowerPlay, DC had surged to 57/0, well ahead of the required rate.
Mumbai’s spinners struggled to contain the offensive. Hayley Matthews and Amelia Kerr attempted to break the partnership, but Lanning maintained her dominance, sweeping Matthews for a fine leg boundary and driving through point. At the other end, Shafali sent Kerr for a massive six over cover, followed by a clean shot down the ground.
Mumbai finally took a wicket in the 10th over as Amanjot Kaur dismissed Shafali Verma (43 off 28, 4x4, 3x6, SR: 153.57), caught by Kerr at deep midwicket. However, Jemimah Rodrigues (15 off 10) came in and quickly hit a four off her second ball.
Lanning, undeterred by the loss, raced to her fifty off just 40 balls, marking her second of the season and a record-breaking eighth in WPL history, surpassing Ellyse Perry’s previous record of seven. She punished Jinti Moni Kalita with consecutive boundaries, cutting and sweeping effortlessly, as Sourav Ganguly watched from the stands, applauding her brilliance. With only a few runs left, DC easily completed the chase. Lanning directed the ball through midwicket for two runs, sealing the victory with 35 balls to spare, as her unbeaten 60 off 43 propelled DC to the top of the WPL standings.
Brief scores:
Mumbai Indians 123/9 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 22, Hayley Matthews 22; Minnu Mani 3-17, Jess Jonassen 3-25) lost to Delhi Capitals 124/1 in 14.3 overs (Meg Lanning 60 not out, Shafali Verma 43; Amanjot Kaur 1-12) by nine wickets.
