Vadodara, Jan 20 (NationPress) Captain Jemimah Rodrigues played a key role with her unbeaten 51 runs, following a strong opening performance from wicketkeeper-batter Lizelle Lee (46), as the Delhi Capitals triumphed over the Mumbai Indians by seven wickets in the 13th match of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on Tuesday.

The chase for a modest target of 155 nearly faltered, yet Rodrigues ensured there was no last-minute drama. By emphasizing precise placements and effective running between the wickets, she led Delhi to victory with six balls remaining, showcasing her leadership when it was crucial.

Earlier, Delhi established a solid foundation with the ball, spearheaded by an outstanding display from Marizanne Kapp, who described the pitch as “not a nice wicket to bowl on.” Kapp was exceptional at the outset, delivering 16 dot balls. She conceded only eight runs in her four overs and allowed no boundaries. Her control, paired with Nandani Sharma, left Mumbai in a precarious position at 23/2 during the Power-play, with Sajana (9) and Hayley Matthews (12) dismissed early.

Despite this, the Mumbai side managed to stabilize their innings through their key players. Nat Sciver-Brunt proved to be a vital contributor with an unbeaten 65 off 45 balls, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur added a solid 41 runs.

After nine overs, Mumbai found themselves at a disappointing 47 for 2, with Sciver-Brunt scoring eight and Kaur at 18. However, both players built their partnership effectively. By the time they reached the third wicket stage, the duo had compiled 78 runs, bringing the total to 100 runs after 13.6 overs, with Sciver-Brunt marking her 11th half-century in this league with a 34-ball inning.

This half-century tied her with Meg Lanning for the record of most half-centuries in the multi-day competition. As the innings concluded, Harmanpreet Kaur was out for 41 runs at the hands of Sree Charani, while Sciver-Brunt carried through, allowing Mumbai to end at 154 runs for 5 wickets, thanks to 42 runs in the final 5 overs, capped off by a six on the last ball.

On the bowling front for Delhi, Sree Charani excelled, taking 3 wickets for 33 runs, including two crucial wickets in the 18th over, thereby restricting the Mumbai innings. Kapp supported with a 1-wicket for just 8 runs, keeping the Mumbai total below expectations.

In response, Delhi began with an ideal start from their opening duo, Shafali Verma and Lizzy Lee, who quickly applied pressure on MI.

Lee displayed confidence and fluency until she fell victim to a controversial umpiring decision. Shafali was unable to convert her promising start into a substantial score. A surprising dismissal of Laura Wolvaardt added to the tension, possibly ruffling the feathers of Capitals fans.

It was at this point that Rodrigues rose to the occasion. Whether spurred by Amanjot Kaur throwing the ball at her without cause or simply fueled by focus, the skipper delivered a captain’s innings characterized by intelligent placement and relentless energy between the wickets. She maintained control of the chase, guiding her team to victory with calm assurance.

For Mumbai, WPL newcomer Vaishnavi Sharma shone in the field, ending with figures of 1 for 20. They should monitor Nicola Carey’s extended absence during the chase moving forward.

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) lost to Delhi Capitals 155/3 in 19 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 51, Lizelle Lee 46; Vaishnavi Sharma 1-20, Amanjot Kaur 1-21) by seven wickets.