A veteran colleges a rookie, Sciver-Brunt exhibits her class and an Aussie guidelines over Capitals’ massive weapons as MI get again on observe.
After an in depth defeat on the opening day of the Girls’s Premier League, defending champions Mumbai Indians wanted to bounce again instantly and their senior gamers – skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Natalie Sciver-Brunt – got here to the get together earlier than an all-round bowling efficiency consigned Delhi Capitals to a crushing 50-run defeat on Saturday.
Veteran colleges rookie
Typically, the distinction in expertise between a seasoned campaigner and a gifted rookie involves the fore on the most vital juncture. It was the ultimate over of the Mumbai Indians innings and so they have been already on an honest rating, on the lookout for the ultimate flourish. Harmanpreet was in her circulate after a comparatively sedate begin. Left-arm spinner Sree Charani, one of many revelations of final 12 months’s 50-over World Cup, was in operation as Harmanpreet is taken into account extra fluent towards seam than spin.
Over the following six balls, the India captain went about dispelling that notion and schooled the 21-year-old along with her improvisation. What additionally performed into her palms was a rookie captain – Jemimah Rodrigues – being on the helm for Delhi Capitals. She stored the off-side discipline contained in the circle for a bowler spinning the ball away from the batter. Harmanpreet didn’t want a second invitation to go inside out. The primary ball was chipped over cowl for 2 earlier than the following two have been lofted over the infield for boundaries.
5⃣0⃣ up with a MAXIMUM 🚀
Harmanpreet Kaur is on hearth in Navi Mumbai 🔥
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Realising that the tactic was not working, Jemimah introduced square-leg up and pushed the quilt fielder to the rope. However by this stage, Harmanpreet was toying with the bowling and the sphere. The subsequent supply, on the stumps, was swept for one more 4, previous the fielder who had come up.
Nevertheless it was the fifth ball of the over that showcased her ability. It was a full ball close to the offside vast line, which the batter first formed to brush, earlier than steering it previous quick third for the fourth consecutive boundary. The 19 runs took MI’s complete from combating to formidable.
After a slim defeat lower than 24 hours earlier, the captain needed to lead from the entrance and he or she displayed her prowess, particularly the signature bat-swing. The 42-ball unbeaten 74, with eight fours and three sixes, obtained her group again on observe.
Elegant operator
T20 cricket is usually related to unorthodox hitting, however Sciver-Brunt didn’t throw the guide out of the window as she helped MI recuperate after an early wicket. Her 46-ball 70, throughout which she had an eye catching 66-run partnership off 47 balls with Harmanpreet, was a connoisseur’s delight.
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The England veteran moved across the crease however by no means misplaced her form. Her 13 boundaries ensured that the group at all times had momentum on their aspect. Sciver-Brunt was not a fan of both aspect of the wicket and stored fielders throughout the DY Patil Stadium outfield busy. She drove, lower, swept, pulled with panache. The 33-year-old was not hesitant to take the aerial route however was at all times answerable for her pictures and knew the place she needed the ball to go.She did the majority of the scoring within the pivotal third-wicket stand, and it was solely after she returned to the dugout that Harmanpreet took over the lead function.
1⃣st fifty of the season 👌
9⃣th fifty in #TATAWPL 🙌
Natalie Sciver-Brunt has arrived in Season 4 💙
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— Girls’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) January 10, 2026
Aussie guidelines
Nicola Carey maybe wouldn’t have featured within the XI had Hailey Matthews been out there. However she made full use of the chance and landed the early blows from which DC couldn’t recuperate as they chased a stiff complete.
In the event that they needed to have any likelihood, Shafali Verma would have had to offer the preliminary ballast and Laura Wolvaardt wanted to play an enormous hand. Because it turned out, Carey took care of each threats within the house of three deliveries with nearly similar dismissals.
Shafali was struggling to hit the ball off the sq. and superior down the pitch to Carey, aiming to hit her over mid-of. However she had not bargained for the inward motion which discovered the hole between bat and pad to disturb the furnishings. Two balls later, Wolvaardt didn’t go away her crease however the refined inward motion defeated the flat-footed drive to hit off-stump.
Timber Strike✖️ 2⃣
Nicola Carey outfoxes Shafali Verma and Laura Wolvaardt in the identical over |/ 😮
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Marizanne Kapp was one other massive fish who might have counterpunched successfully, however after one 4 and a six, Carey had her slicing to quick third to successfully seal the competition.
With Shabnam Ismail, Sciver-Brunt and Amelia Kerr doing their job – the South African speedster obtained Jemimah for a single and the England veteran set the ball rolling with getting hard-hitting opener Lizelle Lee – there was nobody for the DC high order to go after.
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Nevertheless it was an Australian, a uncommon inclusion within the Mumbai Indians XI in WPL, who made the decisive interventions.
Transient scores: Mumbai Indians 195/4 (Harmanpreet 74*, Sciver-Brunt 70) beat Delhi Capitals 145 all out in 19 overs (Henry 56; Kerr 3/24, Carey 3/37) by 50 runs

