Sajeevan Sajana’s last-ball six helped defending champions Mumbai Indians pull off a sensational four-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals in the opening match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday.
Mumbai Indians needed five off the last ball and Sajana achieved the feat on her debut for the franchise. Chasing 172, they needed 10 off the last over and lost Pooja Vastrakar off the first ball.
Then Harmanpreet Kaur was dismissed off the fifth delivery after she had struck a boundary. Alice Capsey, who played a huge role in Delhi Capitals getting to 171 in the first place, failed to pull it off with the ball.
Besides Kaur’s 55 off 34 balls, Yastika Bhatia contributed 57 off 45 balls.
Earlier, Capsey showcased the full range of her talent with a power-packed half-century as Delhi Capitals made a challenging 171 for five.
The 19-year-old from England has been billed as a future star and her 75 off 53 balls (8x4, 3x6) was a perfect vindication of the talks around her. Capsey joined her skipper Meg Lanning (31 off 25b, 3x4, 1x6) after opener Shafali Verma was castled early by veteran pacer Shabnim
Ismail.
Capsey and Lanning mustered 64 runs in just over eight overs after making a steady start. Delhi were 26 for 1 after the six Power Play overs.
But Capsey started the blitz, blasting experienced English pacer Nat Sciver-Brunt for two successive pulled fours through mid-wicket.
Lanning hammered the first six of the match and tournament when she lofted leg-spinner S. Keerthana over long-on. But Brunt broke the stand when she dismissed Lanning.
Capsey remained relentless in the company of her vice-captain Jemimah Rodrigues (42 off 24 balls, 5x4, 2x6), and together they added 73 runs for an entertaining third-wicket partnership in 7.3 overs.
She was particularly ruthless against leg-spinner and countrymate Amelia Kerr, whom she slammed for a couple of fours.
But Kerr had the last laugh when she trapped Capsey leg before but Capitals were already in a position of strength.
“I love being back with the Delhi Capitals. I have had a little break, a little fresh, so was able to get out there and execute my plans,” Capsey said. “I thought my partnership with Meg was really crucial”
Mumbai Indians will not be very pleased with their fielding effort. They dropped a couple of chances, and misses a few run-out opportunities.
Written with PTI inputs
