Debutant Sajeevan Sajana grabbed attention with a sensational last-ball six, sealing a thrilling victory for defending champions Mumbai Indians against Delhi Capitals by four wickets in the opening match of TATA WPL 2024 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur (55) and Yastika Bhatia (57) played crucial innings to propel Mumbai Indians forward before Sanjana’s stylish finish ignited celebrations in the Mumbai camp.
In pursuit of 172, Mumbai Indians faced an early setback when Marizanne Kapp dismissed Hayley Matthews caught behind off just the second ball. However, Yastika Bhatia and Nat Sciver-Brunt counter-attacked, guiding MI to 50/1 by the end of the Powerplay.
The introduction of Arundhati Reddy by Lanning in the seventh over proved effective as she removed the key wicket of Sciver-Brunt with a sensational inswinger. Despite this setback, MI managed to restrict the run flow, conceding only 30 runs in the next four overs to reach 80/2 at the halfway mark.
Bhatia and captain Harmanpreet Kaur then accelerated the scoring, with Bhatia reaching her maiden WPL fifty off just 35 balls. However, Lanning’s decision to bring back Reddy paid dividends as she dismissed Bhatia for 57(45).
Kaur, in partnership with Amelia Kerr, kept the momentum going. Although Shikha Pandey’s excellent over picked up Kerr’s wicket (24 off 18), Kaur reached his half-century stylishly with a six in the penultimate over. With 12 runs needed off the final over, Capsey dismissed Pooja Vastrakar off the first ball. Despite some twists, Sajeevan Sajana’s last-ball six sealed the win for MI.
Earlier, Mumbai Indians, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, chose to field after winning the toss. They made a strong start, limiting Delhi Capitals to 25/1 in the Powerplay. While Shabnim Ismail and Saika Ishaque kept the pressure on, Ismail’s breakthrough dismissed Shafali. Despite Alice Capsey’s attacking innings, DC struggled in MI’s Powerplay.
Capsey and Lanning then accelerated the innings, scoring 39 runs in the next four overs, taking DC to 65/1 at the halfway mark. Nat Sciver-Brunt broke the partnership by dismissing Lanning (32 off 27). However, Capsey’s aggressive play continued, reaching her fifty off just 36 balls. Despite a late surge by Jemimah Rodrigues and Marizanne Kapp, DC managed to reach 171/5.
