WPL 2023 Final: It was an easy ride for Mumbai Indians, outperforming Delhi Capitals by seven wickets to win the title in Mumbai on Sunday. Nat Sciver-Brunt and Harmanpreet Kaur played the decisive role in the triumph, sending Twitter into a frenzy.
While the anticipation was high from Delhi Capitals (DC) fans, who have been waiting for an Indian Premier League (IPL) title since 2008 and were expecting their women's team to deliver it by winning the 2023 Women's Premier League (WPL), it remained a distant dream for them. It was Mumbai Indians (MI) that trounced it in the WPL 2023 Final at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday in a convincing fashion to lift the maiden championship comfortably, thanks to the sublime ride from Nat Sciver-Brunt and Harmanpreet Kaur, while Twitter entered into a jubilant mood.
Being champions? Itβs a thing. π
WE HAVE WON THE FIRST-EVER WPL! π pic.twitter.com/rypKFQxiBw
Winning the toss, DC opted to bat, as it began on a disturbed note, losing three for 35 by the fifth over of the PowerPlay (PP). Skipper-cum-opener Meg Lanning (35) and Marizanne Kapp (18) added 38 for the fourth wicket before the latter fell to Melie Kerr in the 11th.
ALSO READ:Β WPL 2023 - UP Warriorz rue Nat Sciver-Brunt's dropped catch post defeat to Mumbai Indians
heck of a night. i remember being at the first IPL final back in 2008. it felt like something extraordinary had begun. feels very similar tonight, this has been a wonderful tournament! pic.twitter.com/Xyqbi4OGll
β Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75)Thereon, DC lost wickets in a heap, as it was down to 79/9 by the 16th. However, the final pair of Shikha Pandey (27*) and Radha Yadav (27*) showed a brave fighting spirit and contributed to an unbeaten 52-run partnership, as DC finished on a below-par total of 131/9.
π πππππππππ! 's Mumbai Indians are the inaugural champs of the Women's Premier League. The Paltans deserved to lift the trophy for the way they dominated the league from the get-go!
π΅ Commiserations to the Delhi Capitals. They had an excellent run & canβ¦ pic.twitter.com/j0LXOhH6JX
Lanning was DC's top scorer before running out in the 12th at 74. For MI, Issy Wong and Hayley Matthews were on fire, scalping three wickets each, while the latter was heavily economic. In reply, MI also began on an unsettled note, losing the openers Matthews (13) and Yastika Bhatia (4) for 23 by the fourth over of the PP.
History created by Mumbai Indians.
First ever champions in WPL. pic.twitter.com/W1u8C0Aw7w
Then, Sciver-Brunt (60*) and skipper Harmanpreet (37) added 72 for the third wicket. As the two appeared to take MI home comfortably, it was in the 17th when the latter was run out. However, she and Sciver-Brunt had done most of the job, while the sub-par target played the psychological role, as MI kept the required rate under check.
3 - 's registered her third 50+ score of the ongoing edition of , only Tahila McGrath has registered more such scores in this tournament (four). Class. pic.twitter.com/SgfzgMl9b5
β OptaJeev (@OptaJeev)Eventually, Sciver-Brunt struck her half-century and, along with Melie Kerr (14), got the job done, handing MI an easy title conquest by seven wickets, as the MI players rushed onto the field in celebrations, with the fireworks lighting up the night sky. For DC, Radha Yadav and Jess Jonassen were the only wicket-takers, grabbing a wicket each, while Marizanne Kapp was economical.
Harmanpreet Kaur led Mumbai Indians to the WPL Trophy.
Captain. Leader. Legend! pic.twitter.com/QnHmvgQEZ2