Vadodara (Gujarat) [India], February 16: Delhi Capitals (DC) secured a thrilling two-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians (MI) in the ongoing Women’s Premier League (WPL) on Saturday. The match was packed with exciting moments, notably Shafali Verma’s aggressive start, which set the tone for DC’s chase of 165 runs.
Former India captain Mithali Raj praised Shafali’s fearless approach, stating, “Anyone stepping into Shafali Verma’s shoes would acknowledge how she has never shown a defensive approach. Right from the second ball, she started scoring runs, playing her shots with her usual flair.” However, Shafali’s dismissal proved to be a turning point in the game. Mithali analyzed, “The only way to dismiss her today was to outthink her…she instinctively aimed to clear mid-on but ended up playing into the fielder’s hands.”
In their run chase, DC were left at 109/5 in 14.5 overs, despite a solid 60-run opening stand. With just 10 runs needed in the final over, Niki Prasad and Sarah Bryce brought the equation down to a thrilling finish. Arundhati Reddy and Radha Yadav managed to complete a risky double on the final ball to secure the win.
Earlier, MI won the toss and chose to bat first. Despite early breakthroughs by DC, with Shikha Pandey sending Hayley Matthews back for a duck, MI managed to put up a competitive score. Alice Capsey’s over went for 19 runs, and MI reached 41/2 by the end of the powerplay. Harmanpreet Kaur and Nat-Sciver Brunt combined well to push MI past the 50-run mark in just over 7 overs. However, wickets fell regularly, and MI ended their innings at 164/9 in 19.1 overs, with Brunt top-scoring at 80* from 59 balls.
Sutherland (3/34) was the standout bowler for DC, supported by Shikha Pandey (2/20). In the chase, Shafali’s explosive 43 off 18 balls, including seven fours and two sixes, put DC in a strong position. However, quick wickets from MI’s bowlers, including Shabnim Ismail and Amelia Kerr, slowed DC’s progress.
With 21 runs needed from two overs, Niki Prasad and Sarah Bryce played crucial hands, bringing the game to the final over. Despite a dramatic finish, with DC needing just two runs on the last ball, Reddy and Yadav completed the victory, securing two points for their side in a nail-biting encounter.
MI’s bowling attack saw strong performances from Amelia (2/21) and Mathews (2/32), while Ismail, Sciver, and Sajana also took a wicket each. The win keeps DC in the hunt for a strong finish in the ongoing WPL tournament.