Vadodara, Jan 20 (NationPress) Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur acknowledged that her team fell short by 20 runs following their third consecutive defeat, as Delhi Capitals dominated them by seven wickets in Vadodara. Kaur highlighted persistent issues in Power-play execution with both bat and ball as a significant factor contributing to their loss.

Delhi established a solid foundation with their bowling, spearheaded by a stellar performance from Marizanne Kapp. Kapp was outstanding at the beginning, delivering 16 dot balls and conceding just eight runs in her four overs, without allowing a single boundary. Her accuracy, along 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.

“Indeed, we were about 20 runs short with the bat. We struggled to execute well in the Power-play - both with bat and ball, which has been a recurring issue for us in this tournament. We must push ourselves harder during that phase,” remarked Harmanpreet post-match.

“The Power-play has proven challenging for us, particularly as we’ve had to frequently adjust our opening combinations due to injuries. Initially, some players were unavailable, and now Kamalini’s injury has forced yet another change. This has impacted our top-order stability, but it’s not an excuse - whoever opens must take charge and bat positively for the team,” she added.

For Mumbai, WPL debutant Vaishnavi Sharma shone in the field, recording figures of 1 for 20. Harmanpreet praised Vaishnavi, deeming her spell a pivotal moment after she dismissed Shafali Verma and displayed control despite the challenging Power-play.

“On her debut, Vaishnavi was incredibly impressive, especially following a tough Power-play for our bowlers. When she took Shafali’s wicket, it marked a significant turning point. She exhibited great control and skill, and as a bowling unit, we need to learn from her performance today,” she noted.

Despite the setbacks, the Mumbai squad managed to maintain stability through their established strengths. Nat Sciver-Brunt reaffirmed her value by playing a crucial role in Mumbai’s innings, scoring an unbeaten 65 runs from 45 deliveries, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur contributed a solid 41 runs.

The MI captain emphasized that injuries and frequent changes to the opening pair have disrupted stability at the top, yet stressed that responsibility and a positive mindset are essential for whoever takes the crease.

“We’ve demonstrated strong cricket over the past three seasons, and we’re putting in significant effort this year. Injuries have complicated matters, but the next two matches are crucial, and we’ll approach them with a positive attitude and full commitment.”