Key Points
Harmanpreet's 66 runs crucial in MI's victory
Nat-Sciver wins Player of Tournament
MI clinches second WPL title with eight-run win
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's onslaught with the bat in a tough situation and later, measured spells from all-rounders Nat-Sciver Brunt and Amelia Kerr helped MI beat a valiant DC in a thriller by eight runs, giving their opponent a third-successive heartbreak in the final.
After being put to bat first by Delhi who opted to field first, DC restricted MI to 14/2 in 4.3 overs. An 89-run partnership between skipper Harmanpreet (66 in 44 balls, with nine fours and two sixes) and Nat-Sciver (30 in 28 balls, with four boundaries) pushed MI beyond the 100-run mark. G Kamalini (10) and Amanjot Kaur (14*) took MI to 149/7 in their 20 overs through their cameos.
Marizanne Kapp (2/11 in four overs) was exceptionally tight and economical with the ball, getting openers Yastika Bhatia and Hayley Matthews. Jess Jonassen (2/26) and Shree Charani (2/43) also took two wickets each.
DC kept losing wickets regularly in their run-chase, sinking to 83/6 in 12.5 overs. Openers skipper Meg Lanning (13) and Shafali Varma (4) failed to fire while Jemimah Rodrigues (30 in 21 balls, with four boundaries) put up a fight. Later, a 40-run stand between Kapp (40 in 26 balls, with five fours and two sixes) and Niki Prasad (25* in 23 balls, with a four and six) helped DC put up a fight, but Niki herself ran out of support as DC could make just 141/9 in their 20 overs.
Nat-Sciver (3/30) and Amelia (2/25) was the pick of the bowlers for MI.
Harmanpreet won the 'Player of the Match' for her half-century. In 10 matches, she scored 302 runs at an average of 33.55 with a strike rate of over 154 and three half-centuries, with best score of 66.
Nat-Sciver delivered an all-time great campaign, securing the 'Player of the Tournament' title with 523 runs in 10 innings with the bat at an average of 65.37 and a strike rate of over 152 and five fifties. Her best score was 80*. She also ended up as the top-run-getter, receiving the Orange Cap for most runs.
With the ball, Nat Sciver got 12 wickets at an average of 22.50 and best figures of 3/18. She was the joint third-highest wicket-taker in the tournament. The Purple Cap for most wickets went to MI all-rounder Amelia, who took 18 scalps in 10 matches at an average of 15.94 and best figures of 5/38.
