As the group fixtures of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), India’s prestigious women’s T20 cricket tournament, near their conclusion, anticipation mounts for the exhilarating knockout stages. With teams battling fiercely to secure their positions, fans eagerly await the thrilling clashes that lie ahead. As the competition intensifies, each match becomes increasingly crucial, with players poised to deliver their best performances in pursuit of ultimate glory.
The stage is set for captivating encounters as the tournament progresses towards its climax, promising riveting action and unforgettable moments on the cricket field. Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore will lock horns in the Eliminator on 15th March, to earn a place in the Final of the WPL 2024 against the Delhi Capitals.
Sajeevan Sajana’s Last Ball Six vs Delhi Capitals
The Delhi Capitals found themselves in a favourable position after being tasked with batting first, thanks to Alice Capsey’s impressive innings of 75 runs off 53 balls, propelling them to a total of 171/5. The Mumbai Indians responded with a strong chase, led by Yastika Bhatia and captain Harmanpreet Kaur, both scoring half-centuries. Despite this, the match came down to the wire, with five runs needed off the final ball. Making her debut, Sajeevan Sajana stepped up and smashed the ball over the boundary, securing victory for MI and marking the third-highest successful chase in the short history of the WPL.
CRAZYYYYY START to WPL!! 🤩
5 needed in 1 ball and debutant Sajana does this 🫡#CricketTwitter #WPL2024 pic.twitter.com/pGofos3AYk
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) February 23, 2024
Yastika Bhatia commended Sajeevan Sajana, underlining her significance within the Mumbai Indians team, during a conversation with Kieron Pollard, the former star player and batting coach of the men’s team. Bhatia stressed the team’s confidence in Sajana’s abilities and praised her exceptional performance.
This comparison draws attention to Sajana’s pivotal role within the team and the team’s reliance on her, akin to Pollard’s impact on the men’s team. Kieron Pollard has frequently steered his team to victory with his decisive contributions towards the end of matches. Similarly, in the curtain raiser game, Sajana played a crucial role as a finisher, smashing a last-ball six to clinch victory for her team.
Bhatia remarked, “Our team places trust in her, likening her to the Kieron Pollard of our women’s team. She executed it splendidly today. Kudos to her.”
Harmanpreet Kaur’s 95* vs Gujarat Giants
Gujarat Giants’ captain Beth Mooney won the toss and elected to bat first. The opening pair began steadily but lost Laura Wolvaardt’s wicket to Hayley Matthews. Dayalan Hemalatha partnered with skipper Beth Mooney, constructing a formidable 121-run partnership for the second wicket before Sajeevan Sajana dismissed Mooney, providing the second breakthrough for Mumbai Indians.
However, Gujarat Giants suffered a collapse, losing five wickets for just 51 runs, ending with a total of 190/7. Dayalan Hemalatha (74 off 40 balls), skipper Beth Mooney (66 off 35 balls), and Bharti Fulmali (21 off 13 balls) were the standout performers with the bat for Gujarat Giants, while Saika Ishaque (4-0-31-2), Shabnim Ismail (4-0-30-1), and Hayley Matthews (3-0-22-1) shone with the ball for Mumbai Indians.
In pursuit of a challenging target of 191, Mumbai Indians made a solid start, scoring over 8 runs per over during the powerplay before Tanuja Kanwer dismissed Hayley Matthews. Nat Sciver-Brunt joined Yastika Bhatia, but the partnership failed to flourish as Sciver-Brunt fell, providing the second breakthrough for Gujarat Giants.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s remarkable innings of 95 not out from 48 deliveries featured an impressive tally of 10 fours and 5 sixes, boasting a striking strike rate of 197.92. This performance secured her the third-highest individual score in the WPL, following Sophie Devine’s 99 and Alyssa Healy’s 96 not out. Furthermore, it marked her fifth Player of the Match award in the WPL, a record-setting achievement. Reflecting on her batting, Harmanpreet shared, “During practice, I used this bat, which I ended up using in the match. My match bat had a different grip, and it felt a bit loose. So, I decided to stick with my practice bat.”
A knock to remember by Harmanpreet Kaur 💙🫡#CricketTwitter #WPL2024 #MIvGG pic.twitter.com/rD0Oh2ovdV
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) March 9, 2024
During a light-hearted moment, when a fellow anchor teased about keeping Harmanpreet’s bat for herself, the Mumbai captain humorously mentioned that the match referee scrutinized her bat. “Arey vo referee mere peeche pade hain, bat check kar rahe hain, jaise pata nahi kya daala hai bat me (The match referee is behind me to check my bat as if I’ve put something in it),” Harmanpreet said during a Jio Cinema conversation post that blinder of an innings.
Shabnim Ismail’s fastest ball
Her outstanding display in the Women’s Premier League match against Delhi Capitals underscores the remarkable skill and determination within women’s cricket, further solidifying its significance in the realm of sports.
South African fast bowler Shabnim Ismail recently made headlines by surpassing the 130 kph mark in the WPL, clocking an impressive 132.1 kph delivery. Ismail’s explosive pace unsettled batters, narrowly missing Delhi Capitals’ skipper Meg Lanning’s dismissal with a leg-before-wicket scare.
In response, Ismail stated that she doesn’t focus on speed readings while bowling and remains dedicated to honing her craft despite this achievement. Her illustrious career already boasted a previous fastest delivery of 128.3 kph in the same tournament, with this latest feat serving as a significant milestone. Additionally, she surpasses the world record set by Ellyse Perry’s fastest delivery of 130.5 kph.
Shabnim Speed 🔥🔥 #CricketTwitter #WPL2024 #DCvMI pic.twitter.com/qdv1u54a8D
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) March 5, 2024
Reunited with her colleague Jhulan Goswami in the Mumbai Indians camp, Ismail praised Goswami as a legend of the game, with mutual respect shared between them. Reflecting on their interactions, Ismail highlighted their exchange of knowledge, including advice on reaching the 130 kph mark. Ismail also mentioned the presence of Issy Wong in the lineup, emphasizing the collective learning and support within the team contributing to their success on the field.
Deepti Sharma’s Hattrick vs Delhi Capitals
The UP Warriorz suffered a collapse, losing their final four wickets for a mere 43 runs. Deepti Sharma (59 off 48 balls) and skipper Alyssa Healy (29 off 30 balls) showcased their batting prowess for UP Warriorz, while Radha Yadav (3-0-16-2) and Titas Sadhu (3-0-23-2) impressed with the ball for Delhi Capitals.
In pursuit of a challenging target of 139, Delhi Capitals began steadily until Saima Thakor dismissed Shafali Verma, providing the first breakthrough for UP Warriorz.
The game took a decisive turn with Deepti Sharma’s crucial hat-trick, accounting for the dismissals of Meg Lanning, Annabel Sutherland, and Arundhati Reddy. Lanning’s departure for 60 in the 14th over disrupted Delhi Capitals’ momentum.
ICYMI: Deepti Sharma became the first Indian bowler and 2nd overall to pick a hat-trick in WPL. #CricketTwitter #WPL2024 #DCvUPW pic.twitter.com/QZGnWYkzdL
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) March 9, 2024
Building on this breakthrough, Deepti Sharma delivered three more vital wickets in the penultimate over. She showcased her skill by claiming a hat-trick with the first two deliveries, becoming the first Indian bowler and the second overall in WPL history to achieve this feat. Despite conceding a boundary on the fourth ball, Deepti Sharma displayed resilience by dismissing Shikha Pandey, adding to Delhi Capitals’ woes. With only three wickets remaining and ten runs required in the final over, the situation became increasingly challenging for Delhi Capitals.
Ellyse Perry’s 6 fer vs Mumbai Indians
In a crucial match with a playoff berth at stake, Ellyse Perry exhibited her clutch performance, reminiscent of her Australian cricket prowess, as she dismantled the Mumbai Indians’ batting lineup with ease. With stumps flying and balls crashing into the pads, spectators witnessed a remarkable display of seam bowling as the RCB faced off against the Mumbai Indians in a must-win encounter.
The Mumbai Indians made a strong start, losing only one wicket in the powerplay and amassing around 40 runs on the scoreboard. Recognizing the need to disrupt their momentum, RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana decided to change tactics. Bringing on Perry immediately after the powerplay proved to be a game-changer. From the very first ball, Perry exuded lethal accuracy and precision. With just one run conceded in her initial over, Perry put Mumbai Indians on the defensive.
First bowler ever to pick 6 wicket-haul in Women's Premier League ❤️
Ellyse Perry, the GOAT 🐐#CricketTwitter #WPL2024 #MIvRCB pic.twitter.com/qMcz3utiCv
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) March 12, 2024
Returning for her second over, Perry struck swiftly, dismissing Sajeevan Sajna and Harmanpreet Kaur on consecutive deliveries, intensifying Mumbai Indians’ plight. In her subsequent over, she added the scalps of Amelia Kerr and Amanjot Kaur, further derailing the Mumbai Indians’ innings. Pooja Vastrakar and Nat Sciver Brunt also fell victim to Perry’s devastating bowling spell.
Perry’s exceptional performance secured her a record in the WPL, claiming the most wickets in a single innings and achieving her personal best figures of 6 for 16. Her exceptional bowling display against the formidable Mumbai Indians left spectators in awe, as she conceded just 15 runs in her four overs while claiming six crucial wickets.