DC-W 12/1 (1.4 ov, Alice Capsey 0*, Meg Lanning 1*, Issy Wong 1/10) – Live – Delhi Capitals Women vs Mumbai Indians Women, Women’s Premier League 2023 2023, Final Match Live Score, Summary | ESPN.in
7.29pm All set then. Shafali Verma and Meg Lanning walk out to the middle. Lanning marks her guard. It will be Natalie Sciver-Brunt with the new ball. One slip in place. Sciver-Brunt over the wicket. Can the Capitals get off to a quick start?
7.26pm The two teams walk with fireworks going up as they enter the red carpet. Time for the national anthem with the two teams lining up.
7.20pm Not long before live action gets underway. Can Harmanpreet get the better of Lanning for once after finishing second to her in many high-stake games over the years? Sudarshanan explores.
Yastika Bhatia [On Hayley Matthews] Opening with her is fun and lots of sixes to watch from the other end. She is very supportive and backs my game. Tells me to play proper cricketing shots. She complements my style. We can really dominate the bowlers. [On working with Kiran More] Definitely helped a lot. I have been training with him for the past one year. He has helped with my movement and collection, he mentors me so it’s been very nice.
Jims Chacko: “Very good change from DC. Minnu is a top performer from Kerala. She can bat and also bowls well too. “
Jethro: “We have seen 200 scores, 5-fer and Hat-Trick… Time to see maiden century.. Come on Girls….”
Here’s Jemimah Rodrigues: Cricket is a different game everyday. Whoever does well on the day will win. We will try to stick to our process and execute it. [On Harmanpreet and Lanning’s captaincy styles] Both are very different but very passionate and love their cricket. Harman di is aggressive, she loves to take charge and makes sure the girls are charged up. She [Lanning] likes to back the players. Contrasting captains but very efficient. [On Jess Jonnassen] She is an influence on me. I didn’t know she could dance so well. It is so good to enjoy so much, great to express ourselves.
Raji: “Feels like it started yesterday. Another league is coming to an end. Heart says Meg but Brain says Kaur.. Good Luck Girls..Will see more and more talents in coming years.. Belated birthday wishes Meg … “
Playing XIs
Delhi Capitals: Meg Lanning (capt), Shafali Verma, Alice Capsey, Jemimah Rodrigues, Marizanne Kapp, Taniya Bhatia(wk), Minnu Mani, Jess Jonassen, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Shikha Pandey
Mumbai Indians: Hayley Matthews, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Amelia Kerr, Pooja Vastrakar, Issy Wong, Amanjot Kaur, Humaira Kazi, Jintimani Kalita, Saika Ishaque
Toss: Meg Lanning wins the toss and Delhi Capitals will bat first.
Meg Lanning: It gives is the best chance of winning. [On the break] It was a really good time for the group and switch back on. Mumbai are a great team and we want to be at our best. One change, Minnu Mani comes in for Poonam Yadav.
Harmanpreet Kaur: We were looking to bowl first, so the toss does not make a difference. We want to be positive. We are getting a lot of confidence from the last game. We have a very balanced side, and everyone is doing so well. We have to bowl first and restrict them. We are going with the same team
Toss in five minutes. Expect any changes from either side?
And, here’s our main man, Sudarshanan from the ground: It’s a cool evening in Mumbai, a bit windy, too. Once again lots of blues – the Mumbai Indians one more in volume – inside and outside the Brabourne Stadium. People are queuing up to get in and there are people with loudspeakers guiding the spectators with valid tickets to their appropriate gates. At this point, the stadium seems to be about 50% full.
Mustafa Moudi : “WT20 WC 2020 and 2023 – Both the Times, Meg Lanning’s Australia has beaten Harmanpreet Kaur’s India in the Knockout. Hope this time Harmanpreet’s side wins the final !!”
6.50pm The WPL has made the world take notice of some of the players who otherwise wouldn’t have got the chance. Players like Mumbai Indians’ Saika Ishaque, the second highest wicket-taker of the tournament has been around the domestic circuit for more than a decade, and now is the talk of the town after getting rid of some of the best batters in the game. Parshavi Chopra has impressed one and all with a calm head, so have RCB’s Kanika Ahuja and Shreyanka Patil. Here’s Zenia D’Cunha on how WPL opens a whole new world for women’s cricket in India.
Sanket: “Marrizane Cap’s first spell has been really important factor in DC successes with the ball. She has been really good with the new ball upfront and if she bags the big wickets of Matthews and Sciver it will big dent in MI’s batting “
6.40pm How’s the journey to the final been for these two teams? Delhi Capitals topped the table and made a direct entry into the final, while Mumbai Indians had to take Eliminator route where they routed UP Warriorz by 72 runs. Both teams finished the group stage on 12 points each, so there is not much to separate between the two. And, when it comes to the head-to-head tally for the tournament, it is 1-1. In the first contest between these two sides on March 9, Mumbai came out winners by eight wickets before Delhi exacted revenge on March 20 by nine wickets. There isn’t a lot to separate the two sides, but some extra rest days might work in Delhi’s favour. Here’s S Sudarshanan with the preview.
Rajappan: “Why do they churn out playoffs to decide the winner. Just give the trophy to the league topper. ” Oh, where’s the fun in that. A tournament of this magnitude surely deserves a final.
Sanket: “Two batting heavy weights and generally you love to chase but it won’t be bad to bat first in this game. Runs on the board always add that pressure”
6.30pm And, then there were two. Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians. Meg Lanning vs Harmanpreet Kaur. One vs Two. Fitting that the two best teams will go head-to-head in the final of the inaugural Women’s Premier league – a tournament long overdue, and when it has arrived, has shown the might of women’s cricket. With tickets sold out well in advance, a packed crowd is expected for the final at Brabourne Stadium. So fasten your seatbelts, we are in for a ride. This is Ashish Pant and I will soon be joined by Ekanth in the comms seat.