Right then, that will be it from this contest. We hope you enjoyed the coverage. Do join in tomorrow for Match 3 in the Women’s T20 League, 2025 where the home side Gujarat will face the U.P team from the same venue. That game will start at 7.30 pm IST (2.00 pm GMT). But as you know, you can always join early for all the build-up. Until then, take care, and cheers!
Niki Prasad, the debutant star, was beaming with pride as she was awarded the Player of the Match. She also shared her thoughts, saying that her primary goal was to express herself and help her team emerge victorious. Niki revealed that she had visualized herself making a match-winning contribution, and now that it has become a reality, she feels incredible. She acknowledged that the situation demanded a specific approach, and she's thrilled to have played a crucial role in her team's win.
Delhi captain, Meg Lanning, shared her thoughts on the thrilling match, admitting that it was an extremely stressful game. Meg expressed satisfaction with her team's bowling performance, particularly highlighting Shikha Pandey's impressive display. She noted that restricting Mumbai to 164 was a significant achievement. Regarding their batting approach, Meg revealed that the team's strategy was to take the game deep as that's what the situation demanded and she was pleased that the players executed this plan effectively, ultimately securing a win. Meg also praised her bowlers for their overall performance, mentioning that she employed a tactic of frequently changing bowlers to prevent the Mumbai batters from settling into a rhythm. Lastly, Meg singled out Niki Prasad for special praise, commending the young player for her outstanding batting performance under pressure.
Mumbai captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, reflected on the team's performance, stating that they failed to post a decent total, despite a promising partnership between her and Natalie Sciver-Brunt that had made 200 seem achievable. She praised her bowlers for fighting hard and taking the game down to the wire. Kaur specifically highlighted the contributions of Shabnim Ismail, describing her as a great bowler. She also commended Sajana S for her ability to bowl effectively at the backend of the innings. However, Kaur acknowledged that costly misfields ultimately hurt their chances. Looking ahead, she emphasized the importance of batting responsibly and utilizing the full 20 overs. Kaur took personal responsibility for not staying until the end of the innings but expressed confidence that the team would learn from their mistakes.
Stay tuned for the presentation ...
Earlier today, Mumbai batted first and posted a reasonable score of 164 on the back of an excellent 80 from Natalie Sciver-Brunt while Harmanpreet Kaur made a polished 42 with the rest of the batters failing to contribute. Shikha Pandey, Annabel Sutherland, and Minnu Mani were the standout bowlers for the Delhi side.
Mumbai's bowling and captaincy, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, left a lot to be desired. Kaur's calculations went awry, as she was unable to utilize Saika Ishaque's remaining over, having already bowled the 19th. The Mumbai bowlers did manage to pick up some wickets, with Amelia Kerr and Hayley Matthews claiming two each, while Shabnim Ismail, Natalie Sciver-Brunt, and Sajana S took one apiece.
Shafali Verma's explosive start set the tone, but her dismissal allowed Mumbai to regain control. However, two crucial partnerships,33 runs between Niki Prasad and Alice Capsey, followed by 31 runs between Niki Prasad and Sarah Bryce, helped Delhi edge closer to victory. In the end, it was Arundhati Reddy who held her nerve, scoring the winning run off the final delivery of the game to seal a nail-biting win for Delhi.
What a thrilling contest! Delhi has emerged victorious, winning by 2 wickets in a game that was filled with twists and turns. It was a nail-biting finish but in the end. A photo finish from Arundhati Reddy and Delhi are off to a winning start.
Sajana S to Arundhati Reddy, 2 runs.Arundhati Reddy, YOU BEAUTY! A dive, full-stretch from Reddy wins this for Delhi. Tossed up around off, Arundhati Reddy chips this behind Harmanpreet Kaur at cover and scampers back for two to win this. Kaur did take a bit too long before releasing it towards the keeper and tat probably helped Reddy to stretch and barely manage to sneak inside the crease. TV umpire was called into action but the replay clearly suggested that Arundhati Reddy had made her ground. Delhi wins this by 2 wickets.
Arundhati Reddy walks out with a couple to win off the final ball. Super over anybody?
Sajana S to Niki Prasad, OUT! c Amelia Kerr b Sajana S.OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Can you believe it? Niki Prasad finds the fielder in the deep. Tossed up on the pads, Niki Prasad comes down the track and flicks this way too well. The ball travels all the way to the fielder in the deep. Amelia Kerr keeps calm and holds onto it.
Sajana S to Radha Yadav, 1 run.Tossed up on the pads, Radha Yadav gets a fine tickle onto it and the ball is fielded by short fine leg for one.
Sajana S to Niki Prasad, 1 run.Floated arond off, Niki Prasad thumps this towards point and sneaks one more.
Sajana S to Niki Prasad, 2 runs.Fuller around middle and leg, Niki Prasad rocks back and smashes this towards deep mid-wicket for two.
Sajana S to Niki Prasad, Four!FOUR! A poor start from Sajana S as she drags this down the leg and Niki Prasad moves in and flicks this past short fine leg for four. This should have been fielded by the deep backward square leg feidler but she dives over this.
Sajana S will bowl the final over of the chase.
Saika Ishaque to Radha Yadav, Six!SIX! That's been hammered away fro a huge six. Tossed up around middle and leg, Radha Yadav shimmies down the track and slogs this up and over the fence towards deep mid-wicket region for a huge six.
Saika Ishaque to Radha Yadav, No run.Fuller around off, Radha Yadav gets it away towards point and sets off for one. SHe is sent back and puts in a dive to save herself. The bat thumps the ground and bounces up but the TV replay shows that it had landed inside the crease before bouncing and the third umpire adjudged this as NOT OUT.
Another one of those close calls from the TV umpire here. One dug out will surely be unhappy with whatever the third umpire decides. The Umpire is heard calling that the batter has safely made her ground.
Saika Ishaque to Radha Yadav, 2 runs.Tossed up around middle and leg, Radha Yadav hammers this down the ground for a couple. This was racing away to the fence before Shabnim Ismail running to her left from long on fields this and keeps this down to two.
Saika Ishaque to Shikha Pandey, OUT! run out (Sajana S / Yastika Bhatia).OUT! RUN OUT! Another bit of beautiful fielding from a Mumbai player and Shikha Pandey has to walk back here. Full toss on off, Shikha Pandey fails to make the most of it and drives this towards Sajana S at cover. The fielder picks it up and throws it to Yastika Bhatia behind the stumps at the striker's end. The keeper does the rest with Shikha out of her crease.
Saika Ishaque to Niki Prasad, 1 run.Full toss around leg, Niki Prasad tucks this towards short fine and runs a quick single.
Saika Ishaque to Niki Prasad, 2 runs.Tossed up around middle and leg, Niki Prasad sweeps this towards deep square for a couple.
Hayley Matthews to Shikha Pandey, 2 runs.Tossed up around off, Shikha Pandey lofts this over cover for a couple.
Hayley Matthews to Niki Prasad, 1 run.Floated around middle and leg, Niki Prasad sweeps this for a single.
Hayley Matthews to Shikha Pandey, Bye.BYE! Drama as Niki Prasad is given not out. Shikha Pandey attempted a pull shot but missed, and a direct hit was made at the keeper's end. The umpire decided to refer the decision upstairs, and the replays showed it was an extremely close call. After a thorough review, the TV Umpire declared Pandey NOT OUT, much to the dismay of Harmanpreet Kaur, who is engaged in a discussion with the umpire, clearly unhappy with the decision. The umpire clears to Kaur that the zing lights were off with just a part of bails uprooted and not the entire bail hence the TV umpire has made this call of NOT OUT.
Promotion for Shikha Pandey. She comes ahead of Minnu Mani.
Hayley Matthews to Sarah Bryce, OUT! c Jintimani Kalita b Hayley Matthews.OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Floated around off, Sarah Bryce moves to her leg and looks to loft this over cover. The ball doesn't get enough height and lands straight to Jintimani Kalita at cover for her dismissal. This is massive in the context of this chase.
Hayley Matthews to Niki Prasad, 1 run.Fuller around leg, Niki Prasad sweeps this to deep square for one.
Hayley Matthews to Niki Prasad, Four!FOUR! A well-timed stroke for four Tossed up, down the leg, Niki Prasad sweeps this past the short fine leg fielder to her right for a boundary.
14 runs came of this Natalie Sciver-Brunt over and the equation has come down to 30 off 18 now. Saika Ishaque has 2 left in her kitty but Harmanpreet Kaur has turned to Hayley Matthews. An error in decision-making from Kaur? Only time will tell.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt to Niki Prasad, 1 run.Short-pitched, around middle and leg, Niki Prasad pulls this high off her bat towards deep mid-wicket on the bounce for one.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt to Sarah Bryce, 1 run.Good length around off, Sarah Bryce drills this towards long on for one.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt to Sarah Bryce, Six!SIX! STELLAR SARAH! Pitched-up around off, Sarah Bryce takes a steps across and slogs this behind the feidler at long on for a huge six.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt to Sarah Bryce, Four!FOUR! Streaky but Sarah Bryce and Delhi wouldn't mind one bit. On a length wide outside off, Sarah Bryce looks to slog this around leg but gets a healthy edge onto this and it flashes past Yastika Bhatia standing up to the pacer for a boundary behind the stumps.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt to Niki Prasad, 1 run.On a length around the pads, Niki Prasad milks this away towards deep square leg for one.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt to Sarah Bryce, 1 run.Good length around middle and leg, Sarah Bryce tucks this away towards deep on leg for one.
With 44 required off the last 4 overs, Natalie Sciver-Brunt will bowl out here.
Saika Ishaque to Niki Prasad, No run.Too full, wide outside off, Niki Prasad hammers this towards extra cover for no run.
Saika Ishaque to Sarah Bryce, 1 run.Tossed up around middle and leg, Sarah Bryce flicks this towards deep mid-wicket for one.
Saika Ishaque to Sarah Bryce, 2 runs.Short of a length around off, Sarah Bryce leans back and cuts. The ball travels to the fielder at point but she barely manages to get a bit of hand to it. It was half-a-chance though.
Saika Ishaque to Niki Prasad, 1 run.Too full around middle and off, Niki Prasad hammers this down at long off for one.
Saika Ishaque to Sarah Bryce, 1 run.Tossed up around middle and off, Sarah Bryce drills this to long off for one.
Saika Ishaque to Sarah Bryce, Wide!WIDE! Full and wide down the leg, Sarah Bryce misses the flick. Wided.
Saika Ishaque to Sarah Bryce, Four!FOUR! Short and wide outside off, Sarah Bryce rocks back and cuts this past the ring of fielders on off for a boundary.
Amelia Kerr to Sarah Bryce, 1 run.Short of a length around leg, Sarah Bryce flicks this towards deep backward square for one.
Amelia Kerr to Sarah Bryce, Wide!WIDE! Fuller, down the leg. Wided.
Sarah Bryce comes out in the middle.
Amelia Kerr to Alice Capsey, OUT! c Shabnim Ismail b Amelia Kerr.OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Flighted outside off, Amelia Kerr clears her front leg and looks to take on the long on fielder. The ball doesn't travel the distance and is caught well by Shabnim Ismail down at long on.
Amelia Kerr to Niki Prasad, 1 run.Fuller around leg, Niki Prasad jumps down the track and rolls this to long on for one.
Amelia Kerr to Alice Capsey, 1 run.Fuller arond middle and leg, Alice rocks back and tucks this through square leg for a single.
Amelia Kerr to Niki Prasad, 1 run.Fuller on off, Niki Prasad drills this down to long on for one.
Amelia Kerr to Niki Prasad, No run.Floated outside off, Niki Prasad rocks back and looks for the cut but misses out.
Time for the final strategic break of this contest. Delhi after a blistering stat lost a few in the middle and are now staring at a tedious task in front of them. Debutant Niki Prasad has looked solid and alongside Alice Capsey. With Sarah Bryce, Minnu Mani and Shikha Pandey capable of swinging the willow, We are headed to a close finish to this encounter.
Hayley Matthews to Niki Prasad, 1 run.Too full, wide of off, Niki Prasad drives this towards point and takes one.
Hayley Matthews to Niki Prasad, No run.Darted on the pads, Niki Prasad looks to sweep this but gets it brushed off her pads for no run.
Hayley Matthews to Alice Capsey, 1 run.Tossed up outside off, Alice Capsey steps across and tucks this through square leg for one.
Hayley Matthews to Niki Prasad, 1 run.Fuller arond the pads, Niki Prasad flicks this over mid-wicket and runs one.
Hayley Matthews to Niki Prasad, No run.Fuller on the pads, Niki Prasad tucks this to mid-wicket for no run.
Hayley Matthews to Alice Capsey, 1 run.Tossed up on off, Alice Capsey drills this to long on for one.
Amelia Kerr to Niki Prasad, Four!FOUR! Hammered down the ground for four. Nikki is playing some knock on her debut. Tossed up around off, Niki Prasad dances down the track and drills this past a diving mid off fielder for four.
Amelia Kerr to Alice Capsey, 1 run.Tossed up around off, Alice Capsey gets it away for one.
Amelia Kerr to Niki Prasad, 1 run.Short and wide around off, Niki cuts this towards point and takes a quick single. The third umpire was called into action for a run out appeal but the replay shows that Capsey was well within her crease as the keeper dislodged the bails.
Amelia Kerr to Niki Prasad, No run.Tossed up on the pads, Niki Prasad flicks this away but finds the fielder for no run.
Amelia Kerr to Niki Prasad, No run.Fuller around off, Niki Prasad slices this towards point for no run.
Amelia Kerr to Alice Capsey, Bye.BYE! Tossed up wide outside off, Alice Capsey goes for the reverse sweep but misses out. The keeper fails to gather this and the batters take one.
Hayley Matthews to Alice Capsey, 1 run.Another single down to long on.
Hayley Matthews to Niki Prasad, 1 run.Fuller around middle and leg, Niki Prasad drills this to long on for another single.
Hayley Matthews to Alice Capsey, 1 run.Tossed up on off, Alice Capsey drills this to long on for one.
Hayley Matthews to Niki Prasad, 1 run.Floated on the pads, Niki Prasad tucks this towards leg for one.
Hayley Matthews to Alice Capsey, 1 run.Short of a length around middle and leg, Alice Capsey pulls this towards deep mid-wicket for one.
Hayley Matthews to Alice Capsey, No run.Tossed up around the pads, Alice Capsey goes for the flick towards leg but misses out.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt to Niki Prasad, No run.Good length around middle and off, Niki Prasad punches this well but straight at the fielder.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt to Alice Capsey, 1 run.Good length on off, Alice Capsey drives this to long off for one.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt to Alice Capsey, Four!FOUR! Pitched up around off, Alice Capsey gets behind it and drives this past the mid off fielder to her left for four.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt to Niki Prasad, Leg bye.LEG BYE! Good length on the pads, Niki Prasad looks for the flick but gets it brushed off her pads for one. Leg bye signaled.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt to Niki Prasad, No run.Good length around off, Niki Prasad defends this one around off.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt to Alice Capsey, 1 run.Good length wide outside off, Alice Capsey thumps this down to long on for one.
Amelia Kerr to Alice Capsey, 1 run.Tad short, on the middle and leg. Alice Capsey pulls this to long leg for one. Delhi are 83/4 at the halfway mark.
Amelia Kerr to Niki Prasad, 1 run.Wrong'un, on the middle. Niki Prasad chips it off the leading edge toward long-on for one.
Amelia Kerr to Niki Prasad, Four!FOUR! LOVELY SHOT! Overpitched outside off. Niki Prasad gets forward and times it through the point region for a glorious boundary.
Amelia Kerr to Niki Prasad, No run.Wrong'un, spins sharply into the middle. Niki Prasad stays back and gets the inside edge to the left of the keeper.
Amelia Kerr to Alice Capsey, 1 run.Wrong'un, on off. Alice Capsey knocks it past the bowler toward long-off for one.
Amelia Kerr to Alice Capsey, No run.Tossed up on off. Alice Capsey defends forward.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt to Niki Prasad, No run.Full, on the middle stump line. Niki Prasad turns it to short mid-wicket.
Strategic Break! Delhi started brilliantly in the chase and were going all guns blazing but Mumbai bounced back strongly and removed four wickets in quick time. The game is nicely poised now and the Delhi team will have to bat sensibly against the Mumbai attack. Harmanpreet Kaur-led side will be hoping to keep taking wickets. Niki Prasad joins Alice Capsey in the middle now.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt to Annabel Sutherland, OUT! b Natalie Sciver-Brunt.OUT! CLEANED HER UP! Good-length delivery shapes back into the middle stump line. It goes through the defence and clatters into the stumps. Mumbai are coming back strongly into the game. The dangerous Annabel Sutherland is back in the hut.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt to Alice Capsey, 1 run.Short of a length outside off. Alice Capsey pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt to Annabel Sutherland, 1 run.Full-length ball, at the stumps. Annabel Sutherland skips down and eases it to long-on for one.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt to Annabel Sutherland, Four!FOUR MORE! Annabel Sutherland has smoked it. Slower length ball, on the middle stump line. Annabel Sutherland picks the length and smashes it to deep mid-wicket for another boundary.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt to Annabel Sutherland, Four!FOUR! WHAT A SHOT! Fuller than a length, around off. Annabel Sutherland shimmies down the pitch and hammers it through mid-off for a thumping boundary.
Amelia Kerr to Alice Capsey, No run.Wrong'un, on the leg. Alice Capsey plays all around it and gets stuck on the pad. Half an appeal but this was probably going down the leg.
Alice Capsey walks in at 5.
Amelia Kerr to Jemimah Rodrigues, OUT! c Harmanpreet Kaur b Amelia Kerr.OUT! CAUGHT! Amelia Kerr strikes in her first over! Tosses it full, outside off. Jemimah Rodrigues looks to take advantage and loft this over the extra cover fielder. Ends up hitting it off the cue end of the blade and straight to Harmanpreet Kaur inside the circle. She takes a good catch and Delhi have lost three wickets in quick time.
Amelia Kerr to Annabel Sutherland, 1 run.Tossed up on the middle. Annabel Sutherland uses her feet and turns it off the inner half through square leg for a single.
Amelia Kerr to Jemimah Rodrigues, 1 run.Wrong'un, on the middle and leg. Jemimah Rodrigues nudges it through mid-wicket for one.
Amelia Kerr to Annabel Sutherland, 1 run.Floated on the middle. Annabel Sutherland eases it to long-on for one.
Amelia Kerr to Annabel Sutherland, No run.Googly, just outside off. Annabel Sutherland knocks this into covers.
Amelia Kerr comes onto bowl.