That is it from this game and what a day we have had! All three playoff sides were confirmed on Manic Monday and finally, Delhi were able to knock Mumbai off the top of the table. There is one more day of league matches to go in the Women's T20 League 2023 and another doubleheader is lined up for the fans to enjoy. It will be a big day as we are yet to confirm which side out of Mumbai and Delhi will go straight into the final. On Tuesday, the 21st of March, first Bangalore will take on Mumbai at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT) and then it will be a battle between UP and Delhi at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). You can catch the early build-up for both those games as well. Cheers!
Marizanne Kapp is the Player of the Match for her brilliant spell of 2 for 13 from her four overs. Starts by saying that the bowling group deserves this award as everyone bowled well. Shares that she wants to bowl first every time they play on this wicket. Feels that she was a hit-and-miss at the start of the competition but got better as soon as she got a read on the wicket. Ends by saying that their catching has been amazing and it has been a while since she has seen such a fielding performance.
Meg Lanning, the captain of Delhi says that it was a great game and they set it up nicely with the ball. Applauds Marizanne Kapp and gives credit to Arundhati Reddy as well and says that it was a group effort. On Reddy, she says that she is talented and has been eager to learn right from the start and is pleased with her. Mentions that it was a special effort to restrict a team like Mumbai to just over 100 runs. On becoming the leading scorer once again, she says that she doesn't think about it much and only wants to contribute. Says that when you get to the business end, you need to play a full game and they did that in this game.
The Presentation ceremony...
Alice Capsey, the star of the moment is in for a quick chat. She says that she is delighted to win and also to get home early considering they have a game tomorrow. Feels that they bowled good lines and lengths to restrict Mumbai. Adds that the wicket wasn't doing much and it was about hitting straight and through the line. Shares that they want to play the same brand of cricket irrespective of the target. Mentions that she and Shafali Verma hit different parts of the ground but it is about staying still. Adds that there is no one better than Shafali to learn from. Ends by saying that it will be a challenging game against UP who are finding form at the right time.
Harmanpreet Kaur, the skipper of Mumbai, says that they were 40-45 runs short and needed early breakthroughs with the ball. Credits Delhi for batting well and feels that her side did not bowl according to the plans. Reckons that they have to bat well and they need to sit and discuss what has gone wrong in the last two games. Ends by saying that they have good players and such losses can happen but it is about sticking to the basics.
Earlier in the game, Meg Lanning won the toss and opted to bowl first and this turned out to be an excellent decision. Marizanne Kapp got the ball to move in the air and off the deck as well and she dismissed a couple of top-class Mumbai batters to set the tone. The likes of Shikha Pandey and Arundhati Reddy kept up the good work by picking up wickets. Jess Jonassen and Radha Yadav bowled economically and it was only Poonam Yadav who didn't have a positive outing with the ball for Delhi. The top three batters failed for Mumbai and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur tries her best to muster up a few runs. Handy knocks from Issy Wong, Pooja Vastrakar and Amanjot Kaur managed to take Mumbai over the 100-run mark. This was well under-par and Delhi chased in down in exactly 9 overs.
Mumbai will be disappointed not with the loss but more so with the manner of the loss. They were completely outplayed by the opposition and losing a couple of games on the trot just before the playoff won't do them any good either. There wasn't much to talk about the bowling as everyone went for a tap but it was the leading wicket-taker Saika Ishaque who wore the brunt of it the most. Hayley Matthews picked up the solo wicket for Mumbai but their fielding coupled with some poor bowling meant that they lost the game with more than half of the overs to spare.
Delhi have simply pulled off a remarkable display here that too against arguably the best side in the competition. They bowled exceptionally and their batters have matched that, if not bettered it. Just like a few matches ago against Gujarat, Shafali Verma saw a low score on the board and went hard at the bowlers. Verma's hard-hitting came off and her blitz of 33 runs from 15 balls killed the chase then and there. Skipper Meg Lanning played a few delightful strokes to finish with an unbeaten 32 off 22 balls. Alice Capsey though took a page off Verma's book and cleared the fence with regularity to end with 38 not out off just 17 balls. All in all, a stunning display from Delhi and they now go top of the table.
Delhi have just proved the saying that, 'revenge is a dish best served cold,' as they avenge their thumping loss against table-toppers Mumbai to go level on points with them. Not only that, but Delhi's net run rate is now better than that of Mumbai which means they are now in pole position for direct qualification into the final.
In over# 9
2
1
6
4
0
6
Saika Ishaque 36/0(2)
8.6
2
THAT'S IT! Delhi win by 9 wickets! Saika Ishaque bowls it short and on off, Meg Lanning stays on the back foot and punches it to extra cover. Amanjot Kaur runs slides to her right but fumbles which allows the batters to run the second run.
8.5
1
Fullish delivery on middle, Alice Capsey advances and knocks it down to long off for a single.
8.4
6
SIX! Saika Ishaque bowls this one full and on leg, Alice Capsey clears her front leg and slogs it towards deep mid-wicket. Gets it over Natalie Sciver-Brunt at deep mid-wicket for yet another maximum.
8.3
4
FOUR! Short and at the stumps, Alice Capsey gives herself room and punches it hard towards extra cover. A slight fumble there and the ball races away to the fence.
8.2
.
Sees the batter advance and fires it full on middle, Alice Capsey digs this one out on the off side.
8.1
6
SIX! Alice Capsey continues her six-hitting! Saika Ishaque bowls it short and slower outside off, Alice Capsey steps out of the crease and frees her arms. Lofts it back over the bowler's head for a biggie.
In over# 8
0
1
0
0
1
0
Amelia Kerr 2/0(1)
7.6
.
Short and flatter outside off, Meg Lanning looks to cut but misses.