MI Women Wins 1st Edition of WPL: Mumbai Indians have been crowned as the champions of the inaugural Women’s Premier League. In a grand finale that was almost over in the first innings, Delhi Capitals made an extraordinary comeback but failed to stop Mumbai Indians from claiming the title by seven wickets, with three balls remaining. The match was held at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on March 26, 2023.
Delhi Capitals, after winning the toss, were off to a poor start as they lost Shafali Verma and Alice Capsey in the fifth over, both to Issy Wong’s full tosses. The umpires checked for a no-ball in Verma’s dismissal, which was close to waist-high, but the decision stood.
MI Women Wins 1st Edition of WPL | Mumbai Indians Crowned as the Inaugural Champions of Women’s Premier League
Meg Lanning tried to bring stability to the innings and forged a partnership of 38 with Marizanne Kapp before getting run out. Capitals’ inning collapsed thereafter, with only Shikha Pandey and Radha Yadav providing resistance in the last wicket partnership of 52 runs, taking them to a total of 131.
Mumbai Indians looked to be cruising in their chase until Capitals’ bowlers made a stunning comeback, restricting Mumbai to 111 for 3 at the end of the 18th over.
However, Natalie Sciver-Brunt, with her unbeaten 60 off 52 balls, held her nerve and led Mumbai’s charge to victory. She hit three boundaries in the 19th over to ease the pressure off Mumbai and finished the game with a boundary off Alice Capsey.
Sciver-Brunt’s innings was vital to Mumbai’s win, but it was Matthews and Wong who made the difference in the first innings with their bowling. Matthews, who went unsold in the first round of the auction, picked up three crucial wickets, conceding just five runs from her four overs.
MI Women Wins 1st Edition of WPL | Mumbai Indians Crowned as the Inaugural Champions of Women’s Premier League
She also became the highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 16 scalps. Wong, who was playing her first game of the tournament, picked up three wickets, including the prized scalp of Verma, and conceded just 42 runs in her four overs.
Mumbai’s win was a result of their all-round performance throughout the tournament. They finished at the top of the points table, winning seven of their nine matches. Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of Mumbai Indians, was pleased with the team’s performance and praised the players for their efforts.
Delhi Capitals, on the other hand, had a mixed campaign, finishing third on the points table. However, their performance in the final was impressive, and Pandey and Yadav’s last-wicket partnership will be remembered as one of the highlights of the tournament.
The Women’s Premier League was a significant step towards promoting women’s cricket in India. The tournament featured six teams and was played in a round-robin format, with the top four teams qualifying for the playoffs.
The BCCI, who organised the tournament, received positive feedback from the players and fans, and they have expressed their intention to make the Women’s Premier League an annual event.
MI Women Wins 1st Edition of WPL | Mumbai Indians Crowned as the Inaugural Champions of Women’s Premier League
In conclusion, Mumbai Indians emerged as the champions of the inaugural Women’s Premier League, with Natalie Sciver-Brunt playing a vital role in their victory.
The tournament was a significant success, and it has provided a platform for women’s cricket in India to grow and flourish. The BCCI’s efforts to promote women’s cricket are commendable, and we can expect more such events in the future.
The WPL was a significant milestone in the development of women’s cricket in India, providing a platform for the country’s young and upcoming talents to rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in the game.
It was also a great opportunity for overseas players to gain valuable experience of playing in subcontinent conditions and against high-quality opposition.
