An all-around performance from MI’s bowling squad sets up a convincing victory.
T20 cricket is regarded as a batter’s game, but Mumbai Indians demonstrated on Thursday
in the Women’s Premier League that a strong bowling attack can frequently bring even a
star-studded line-up down.
Issy Wong and Pooja Vastrakar used their swing to dismiss Delhi Capitals for just 105 runs
in 18 overs, while Shaika Ishaque and Hayley Matthews used their spin to secure an
eight-wicket victory with five overs remaining.
It was a meeting of the two teams who had won their first two games, but it rapidly became
an incompatibility.Delhi Capitals were never in the game on either side of a half-century
partnership between captain Meg Lanning and Jemimah Rodrigues. T20 games are fairly
quick, therefore it might be challenging to stop the momentum once it starts. Dehi
experienced a spectacular collapse after Ishaque bowled Rodrigues in the 13th over, losing
their final seven wickets for just 24 runs. Even the consistently dependable Jess Jonassen
was unable to lead them to a total that offered their bowlers some hope.
Although being top-heavy, the Capitals’ lineup didn’t help them win this match.
Ishaque wasn’t well-known when the Women’s Premier League first began.Delhi Capitals
were never in the game on either side of a half-century partnership between captain Meg
Lanning and Jemimah Rodrigues. T20 games are fairly quick, therefore it might be
challenging to stop the momentum once it starts. Dehi experienced a spectacular collapse
after Ishaque bowled Rodrigues in the 13th over, losing their final seven wickets for just 24
runs. Even the consistently dependable Jess Jonassen was unable to lead them to a total
that offered their bowlers some hope.
Although being top-heavy, the Capitals’ lineup didn’t help them win this match.
Ishaque wasn’t well-known when the Women’s Premier League first began. She grabbed
three wickets on her own, while Matthews took care of the Capitals’ back end.
Mumbai Indians were never going to have trouble reaching their goal of 106, and the
opening pair of Yastika Bhatia and Matthews ended any dreams of a rally with a 65-run
combination in just under nine overs. The victory on Thursday at the DY Patil Stadium only
strengthened their already strong net run rate. Harmanpreet & Co. appear to be the side to
beat after one week of the competition. Early in the game, Matthews did miss a few catches,
but overall, their ground fielding was superior than that of the opposing teams.
The mood of the game was established quite quickly. Lanning and Shafali had been a potent
duo on the powerplay in Delhi Capitals’ first two games, but as soon as the latter was
removed, they were in trouble. Alice Capsey and Marizanne Kapp were both quickly ejected
at that point.
It brought together perhaps their two finest batsmen, Lanning and Rodrigues, who were able
to mostly undo the initial damage before it all went to waste. The Mumbai Indians’
left-handed Bhatia was elegance personified at the top and gave the opposition no chance.
Nat Sciver-Brunt and Harmanpreet scored the final 29 runs in just 3.5 overs after both
openers were out.
Short scores: Mumbai Indians 109/2 in 15 overs (Yastika Bhatia 41) defeated Delhi Capitals
105 all out in 18 overs (Lanning 43; Wong 3/10, Ishaque 3/13, Matthews 3/19) by 8 wickets.
