Mumbai Indians lifted the trophy in the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League after grilling 22 matches. They finished second on the points table with 12 matches from six games. They suffered only two losses the entire season and were the deserved winners.
Certain matches were one-sided, like the curtain raiser between Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Giants. The eventual winners posted 207 runs on the board and restricted their opposition to a paltry score of 64.
It was Mumbai Indians, who were involved in the most number of one-sided matches. They thrashed Bangalore, Delhi, and UP by 8 and 9 wickets in their unbeaten streak at the start. However, other teams produced even contests and gave the fans the full worth of their money.
#5 UP Warriorz defeat Gujarat Giants with one ball remaining in Match 3
Batting first, Gujarat Giants scored 169 runs on the board. Harleen Deol knocked 46 off 32 while Dayalan Hemalatha struck a quickfire 21 off 13 deliveries. In reply, UP stuttered to 20 for 3 by the end of 3 overs.
Kiran Navgire provided some fight to the chase by scoring 53 off 43 balls. However, the equation was still not in favor of UP as they required 53 to win off the last 3 overs.
Sophie Ecclestone and Grace Harris took matters into their own hands by smashing Kim Garth, Annabel Sutherland, and Ashleigh Gardner all over the park. Seemingly impossible, they scored 20, 14, and 24 runs off the final three overs to put a smile on their fans’ faces.
#4 Delhi Capitals defeat Royal Challengers Bangalore with 2 balls remaining in Match 11
Royal Challengers slammed 150 runs while batting first, with Ellyse Perry’s unbeaten knock of 67 off 52 balls standing out. Richa Ghosh, too, played her part while scoring 37 off 16 deliveries.
Delhi Capitals started their chase on a disciplined note with Alice Capsey and Jemimah Rodrigues getting out in their 30s. The task was left towards Marizanne Kapp and Jess Jonassen, who finished the game with two balls remaining.
#3 UP Warriorz defeat Mumbai Indians with 3 balls remaining in Match 15
Sophie Ecclestone was at the heart of UP Warriorz’ win against Mumbai Indians
Batting first, Mumbai Indians were all out for 127 runs courtesy of Sophie Ecclestone’s three-wicket haul. Deepti Sharma and Rajarshi Gayakwad replied with two wickets each as only Hayley Matthews and Issy Wong were able to breach the 30-run mark.
UP was pegged down to 27-3 early in the chase. However, Tahlia McGrath and Grace Harris bailed them out with their 44-run partnership for the fourth wicket. The game was taken till the last over when Sophie Ecclestone smashed a six to seal the win.
#2 UP Warriorz defeat Gujarat Giants with 1 ball remaining in Match 17
Gujarat Giants posted 178 runs on the board while batting first. The highlight of the first innings was the fourth-wicket partnership between Dayalan Hemalatha and Ashleigh Gardner. Both batters completed their half-century in the end.
UP Warriors looked certain to lose the game until Tahlia McGrath and Grace Harris struck at a strike rate in excess of 150. With six runs required to win off the final over, Sophie Ecclestone hit the winning runs.
#1 Mumbai Indians defeat Delhi Capitals with 3 balls remaining in the WPL Final
Mumbai Indians Women clinched the title on the final day of the season in style
Meg Lanning provided Delhi Capitals with a nice start at the top by scoring 35 off 29 balls. The rest of the batters failed to replicate her performance before Shikha Pandey and Radha Yadav stitched a partnership of 52 runs for the tenth wicket.
The Delhi bowlers started strongly by taking two wickets inside the powerplay. Nat Sciver Brunt turned out to be the hero of the match with her patient knock of 60 runs off 55 balls proving to be enough to guide Mumbai past the finishing line.
