WPL 2023, DC vs MI blog: Bowlers set up big win as Harmanpreet Kaur and Co remain unbeaten

That will be all for this blog. MI extend their lead at the top, a bit of a speed bump for DC. On Friday, RCB remain in must-win territory as they take on UPW.

The Meg Lanning interview is worth a revisit:

What’s your thoughts on the toss now?

(Laughs) Hindsight is a wonderful thing. To be honest, we were actually in very similar positions in the 12-over mark. And unfortunately in the innings we just couldn’t put partnerships together. I’ll take a lot of blame for that. I think I took up some balls early and then got out at a crucial time which was disappointing. We needed a set batter to get us through towards the back end. So that was a difference really, you know, lots of stuff to work on. I thought Mumbai bought excellently and that’s the game sometimes it doesn’t go your way.

Was there a little bit of something in the pitch to know it did look like there was maybe a little bit of movement?

Yeah, there was certainly a little bit in it for the bowlers which is a good thing. It’s not always gonna be a flat track and it did tend to hold a little bit more than perhaps the other wickets we’ve played on so you know, sometimes you just got to adapt what you get and then Mumbai seemed do that a little bit better.

We spoke about chasing 200. But let’s go to setting, when you come up against the side like Mumbai Indians, is that what you’re certainly thinking you’re doing or is it constant readjustment as you’re out there?

Constant adjustment really. I mean, you can’t go out there. You know, looking at that 18- right from the start. I think you get yourself into a bit of trouble as you do that. You’ve got to build the blocks first and get set and build partnerships throughout. And that’s what allows you to go at the back end and that’s what we weren’t able to do today. So it wasn’t our best day. We gave it a crack but you know, there’s lots to learn and I think we’re able to pull it back a little bit through the bowling innings which is a good sign and hopefully come back better next time.

Okay, just positives. Come on. Give us a couple of them, pull out a couple of players that you’re impressed with.

Well I thought Rodrigues actually came out and really attacked the ball and the sort of swung the momentum a fair bit our way which was good and we just couldn’t capitalise on it. I think Alice Capsey has been bowling excellently was able to tie them down really well. So we got some good options. Some things went well for us tonight. 

Orange suits you though (referring to the cap for being the leading run-scorer).

(LAUGHS) Ooooh, I feel like a bit silly wearing this to be honest with you. Yeah, look, hopefully I can keep contributing. And you know, we’ve got a few few more wins in us.

Player of the match: Saika Ishaque

Harmanpreet Kaur: She is all praise for the bowling performances, says it is easy for her when her players are stepping up this way. “Now the tournament is going to start, because the pitches are going to get slower,” she signs off.

Maybe it’s a bit odd to plug this after her side has been beaten easily, but given what Harman said at the toss and what she said now, it is hard not to be in awe of Lanning.

Meg Lanning: Leading, winning and redefining greatness

Meg Lanning: “I’ll take a lot of blame for our batting in the 2nd half of our innings, took up too many balls early on, couldn’t capitalise.” Then adds she feels a bit silly wearing the orange cap. What a leader, goodness. Can’t imagine many captains saying that in a post-match interview. She is something else.

MI win by 8 wickets: Mumbai Indians have won one match by 143 runs and two others by finishing the run-chase in the 15th over.

MI 109/2 after 15 overs: MI win by 8 wickets and 30 balls to spare! Sciver-Brunt finishes with two fours as MI complete another chase in the 15th over.

MI 99/2 after 14 overs: A couple of fours for Harmanpreet Kaur in Capsey’s over. DC still putting in the dives, changing fielders around etc. But the batting has been too good.

MI 89/2 after 13 overs: Sciver-Brunt with two brilliant pull shots for four as Pandey tries to test her with bouncers. She is too strong square of the wicket though.

MI 79/2 after 12 overs: WICKET! Oh after Radha in the previous match it is now Rodrigues. DC have done superbly on the field. The Mumbaikar sprints in full speed and takes a wonderful low catch. Matthews c Rodrigues b Capsey 32 (31 balls)

MI 77/1 after 11 overs: Good over by Kapp,

MI 75/1 after 10 overs: Hayley Matthews is now starting to shift gears. Two fours off Jonassen. Just 31 needed off 60 balls.

MI 65/1 after 8.5 overs: WICKET! End of a fine innings from Yastika Bhatia. Looked so fluent today. Norris gets one past the defence and MI lose a review too. Bhatia lbw b Norris 41 (32 balls)

MI 61/0 after 8 overs: Just two runs from Capsey’s over but MI are cruising.

MI 59/0 after 7 overs: This is some batting by Yastika. Two fours to start Radha’s over.

MI 47/0 after 6 overs: Jonassen driven down the ground for possibly the shot of the day! Superb from Bhatia. What a powerplay for MI again.

MI 42/0 after 5 overs: Just like that, after a good start from DC bowlers, MI have gone 4-4-4-4-0-4-4. Three fours for Yastika in Kapp’s over.

MI 29/0 after 4 overs: Shikha Pandey just conceded a hat-trick of fours. And that doesn’t even begin to tell the story of those three deliveries to Hayley Matthews. An outswinger beat Matthews first, then an inswinger goes for four inside edged. Another inside edge beats Jonassen at mid-on, and then the outside edge beats slip.

MI 16/0 after 3 overs: Pressure building ever so slightly on Mumbai here. Of course, no worry with the required rate but Kapp bowls a terrific over to keep Matthew quiet. Four dot balls.

MI 15/0 after 2 overs: Pandey starts off with a tidy over. One delivery, width on offer, Matthews smacked it over point for four. But otherwise good lines.

If MI can fix Yastika’s intent, Indian cricket will be thankful. She is such a good stroke-player, just gets bogged down too often.

MI 9/0 after 1 over: Yastika starts with two straight fours in Kapp’s over. MI off to a good start.

Kapp gets things going for Capitals.

Yastika Bhatia and Hayley Matthews in the middle. DC need early wickets and plenty of those, given MI’s batting depth.

DC 105 all out after 18 overs: ALL OUT! Matthews cleans things up. A wasted review early on but they get the second one right, Norris is plumb in front. Three-for for the WI captain again!

DC 102/9 after 17 overs: WICKET! Wong has three! Radha skies one to point. And the end is nigh Delhi. Yadav c Kazi b Wong 10 (9 balls)

DC 98/8 after 16.2 overs: WICKET! Wong gets her second, tame from Taniya to hit a short ball straight to midwicket. Bhatia c Matthews b Wong 4 (9 balls)

DC 98/7 after 16 overs: Kerr has been a bit expensive today. Radha finishes that over with a lovely drive over extra cover for six.

DC 89/7 after 15 overs: Taniya Bhatia and Radha Yadav in the middle now, Shikha Pandey can bat too. DC will need to bat 20 overs here and give the bowlers something to work with.

DC 84/7 after 13.4 overs: MORE WICKETS! What a collapse this is. Jess Jonassen first falls caught at point and then Minnu Mani is out stumped. Matthews with two in over.

Jonassen c Amanjot Kaur b Matthews 2 (3 balls)

Mani st Bhatia b Matthews 0 (3 balls)

DC 84/5 after 13 overs: WICKETS! What an over from Saika. She is going to hold on to that Purple Cap for a while. First Rodrigues is bowled trying to cut and then Lanning finds Harman at cover.

 Lanning c Harmanpreet Kaur b Ishaque 43 (41 balls)

Rodrigues b Ishaque 25 (18 balls)

Lanning-Rodrigues: A 50-run partnership in just 33 balls.

DC 80/3 after 12 overs: More good running between the wickets and just like that 8 runs in that Matthews over. What a world class contest this has been so far, one way then the next. Great fielding on show too in that over to save a four.

DC 72/3 after 11 overs: That Meg Lanning sequence of 4-4-4 was a mini masterclass in footwork. Off the front foot for four, off the back foot through square leg, off the front foot again. Taking on Kerr brilliantly

DC 58/3 after 10 overs: Meg Lanning batting with Jemimah Rodrigues, and feels to me like the running between the wickets is probably the best we have seen this tournament. Both such naturals. Nothing out of the ordinary, just so smooth so far. 7 runs in that Matthews over.

Matthews into the attack after timeout. Will DC look to up the ante?

DC 51/3 after 9 overs: Kerr into the attack and nearly gets Lanning! A mistimed shot though is actually perfectly timed that it falls between three fielders. Great fielding on show in that over by Amanjot Kaur too who has been a champ on the boundaries through the three matches.

DC 45/3 after 8 overs: uff, delightful drive past cover for four by Rodrigues. Three fours int hat NSB over, one of them a streaky outside edge that fell just short of Matthews at slip.

DC 31/3 after 6.3 overs: WICKET! Well maybe not an absolute peach on replays, but a really good delivery from Wong to beat Kapp’s defence on length and a little bit off seam movement. What a start for MI. Kapp b Wong 2 (4 balls)

DC 29/2 after 6 overs: What a powerplay for MI. Lanning finishes it with her best shot of the day yet, pulling Vastrakar for four but MI will be delighted with this. Kapp is the new batter in.

DC 24/2 after 5.2 overs: WICKET! And MI’s powerplay gets better! The short of length from Vastrakar does the trick. Capsey hits it straight to the fielder. Capsey c Kalita b Vastrakar 6 (7 balls)

Vastrakar in to the attack

DC 23/1 after 5 overs: It’s been a bit of a struggle for Lanning so far, not the most fluent of starts. Wong bowls a lovely first over after starting with a leg byes for four. Couple of terrific away swingers before cramping her for room and nearly making her play on.

DC 18/1 after 4 overs: Perhaps the first loose ball of the night from Ishaque, Capsey puts it away over midwicket.

DC 12/1 after 3 overs: CHANCE! Capsey has been promoted to No 3 and she should have been back in the hut. Not the easiest of high catches running back but Matthews can’t hold on. NSB unlucky

DC 8/1 after 2 overs: WICKET! Saika! She is pumped. Full delivery into the pads of Shafali and bowled. Verma b Ishaque 2 (6 balls)

DC 5/0 after 1 over: NSB starts off with a wide delivery and Lanning wastes no time in bringing out the square cut. Signature. But the English star comes back with a superb away swinger that is nearly caught at slip by a diving Matthews. Great comeback to keep it to 5 after that first ball.

7.27 pm: DC have extended their batting lineup a tad bit with inclusion of Minnu Mani but can MI put them under pressure they haven’t faced yet so far? Early wickets will be key. Lanning’s wicket will be key.

Average first innings score at this venue so far in the tournament is 196. DC have crossed 200 twice already, once here.

DC XI: Meg Lanning (c), Shafali Verma, Marizanne Kapp, Jemimah Rodrigues, Alice Capsey, Jess Jonassen, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Minnu Mani, Shikha Pandey, Radha Yadav, Tara Norris

MI XI: Hayley Matthews, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Amelia Kerr, Pooja Vastrakar, Issy Wong, Amanjot Kaur, Humaira Kazi, Jintimani Kalita, Saika Ishaque

Toss interview: Harmanpreet Kaur wanted to chase anyway, she might not have won the toss but getting to do what she wanted. Also had lovely words for Meg Lanning:

“She is a very good player and very good leader, it is a very positive thing that she is playing in India [in WPL], and sharing the dressing room with our domestic players, that’s what we always wanted and really happy it’s happening now”

Team news: MI are unchanged, DC make one change to bring in Minnu Mani (Kerala allrounder) to replace Arundhati Reddy.

TOSS: Meg Lanning wins the toss and opts to bat first at DY Patil.

No strangers to each other are they? This promises to be good. Time for the toss.

06.55 pm: Both teams have scored runs for fun so far in the tournament, it could come down to the bowling units tonight. Will DC try and bring in an extra batter, is something to be seen as well.

06.55 pm: Hayley Matthews, who has been fabulous for MI so far, had this to say after the last match:

“I think in seven out of my last 10 T20I innings, I have got to 30s and 40s. Today, I got to a good start again. I told myself to stay focused and be more responsible at the crease.”

“Harmanpreet is great inside the dressing room. Always bubbly and cracking jokes. On the field, she has clear plans for each of us. We just have to go out there and execute.”

“From when I was pretty young, I followed and supported my dad’s favourite sports teams. He was an MI fan from the very first season and a huge Sachin Tendulkar fan. When I was bought in the auction, somebody brought back all my tweets from 2013 around ‘Come on MI’ or something like that. It was pretty funny to see that.”

06.50 pm: Jess Jonassen after DC’s 2nd win – “Meg’s an exceptional leader. I am really excited that I am part of the same team that she is over here. She just has this calmness about her and she’s able to project that over every other person out there in the field.”

She added: “It doesn’t matter what the situation of the game is, she always seems to have a plan or have an option or have a thought about something so I really enjoy having her as the captain of this team. It’s nice to bounce some ideas off her as well.”

06.45 pm: Hello and welcome to the live coverage of Women’s Premier League. It’s match No 7 and it is the clash of undefeated teams. And, admittedly at the risk of predicting something far away, a potential dress rehearsal for the title clash.

This is big. It’s Harmanpreet Kaur vs Meg Lanning, the two captains who have given us some thrillers for us with their sides in international cricket. Today, they will lead two teams who have started WPL on fire. Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals have looked, by some distance, like the best teams in the competition and one of them will go 3-0 today.

Photos / screenshots in the blog courtesy: Sportzpics / wplt20.com and JioCinema