Can Nat Sciver-Brunt's 65 Lead MI to Victory Over DC in WPL 2026?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Nat Sciver-Brunt led with a remarkable unbeaten 65.
- Harmanpreet Kaur provided solid support with 41 runs.
- Mumbai recovered well after a shaky start.
- Shree Charani was the standout bowler for Delhi with 3 wickets.
- MI scored 42 runs in the final five overs.
Vadodara, Jan 20 (NationPress) An impressive unbeaten 65 from all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt, complemented by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's 41, propelled the Mumbai Indians to a total of 154/5 in their 20 overs against the Delhi Capitals during the 13th match of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 held at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on Tuesday.
Despite a rocky start, Sciver-Brunt's resilient innings turned the tide for the Mumbai Indians Women. Under duress in the Power-play, MI found their footing with Sciver-Brunt’s remarkable 65 off 45 balls. Her performance transitioned from cautious to aggressive, particularly when she struck a six on the final ball to elevate MI past 150 and intensify the pressure on the opposition.
Early on, Delhi established dominance. Marizanne Kapp and Nandani Sharma excelled in the Power-play, dismissing Sajana (9) and Hayley Matthews (12), leaving Mumbai at a precarious 23/2 after six overs.
Kapp's statistics—just 8 runs47/2 in nine overs, with Sciver-Brunt on 8 and Harmanpreet on 18. They needed to rebuild and regain momentum.
The turning point arrived as Sciver-Brunt settled into her rhythm, and the third-wicket partnership began to flourish. They accumulated 50 runs in 45 balls, with Mumbai reaching 50 in 9.4 overs and 100 in 13.6 overs. Sciver-Brunt reached her half-century in just 34 balls, showcasing growing confidence. However, just as the partnership seemed poised to dominate, Harmanpreet fell for 41, caught by N. Sree Charani, which ended a vital 78-run partnership.
The final overs were filled with excitement. At the second timeout, MI stood at 119/3 in 16 overs, but Charani struck twice in the 18th over, removing Nicola Carey (12) and Amanjot Kaur (3), the latter following a successful DRS review. Nonetheless, Sciver-Brunt remained composed, concluding her innings with 65 off 45, while Sanskriti Gupta added a quick 10 off 5, contributing crucial late boundaries. Mumbai scored 42 runs in the last five overs, with the last-ball six ensuring a solid finish at 154/5 after an uncertain start.
Shree Charani emerged as the standout bowler for DC, ending with figures of 3 for 33, while Kapp concluded with 1 for 8.
Brief scores:
Mumbai Indians Women 154/5 in 20 overs (Nat Sciver Brunt 65 not out, Harmanpreet Kaur 41; Shree Charani 3-33, Marizanne Kapp 1-8) against Delhi Capitals.