Meg Lanning made a solid start for the Delhi Capitals,but her 35 was not quite enough to post a winning score in the WPL final.Credit:AP Photo
In front of Mumbai’s blue-clad army of fans in their home Brabourne Stadium,it was an emotional evening for India captain Harmanpreet Kaur,as she led her side to victory over her old Aussie rival to cap an enthralling first edition of the game-changing women’s league.
And in a competition which has featured so many standout performances by Australians,there was some irony in the fact that the only team that didn’t use a single Aussie in the tournament ended up winning.
“Mumbai deserved it,but I certainly can’t fault the effort from our team. We didn’t play our best game,but we fought right to the end. I’m very proud of our efforts,” Lanning said.
As ever,Lanning’s personal efforts could not be faulted as her hopes of adding the inaugural WPL title to her bustling trophy cabinet,which includes medals from seven white-ball world cup victories,a Commonwealth Games gold medal and three Australian T20 titles.
Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur,left,celebrates the dismissal of Meg Lanning during the Women’s Premier League Twenty20 cricket final.Credit:AP Photo
She ended up the orange cap holder as the tournament’s top scorer with a tally of 345 runs,and her shrewd captaincy kept Delhi in the hunt right until the penultimate over.
Delivered by Lanning’s Aussie teammate Jess Jonassen with the match still in the balance,that 19th over was clocked decisively for 16 runs by Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amelia Kerr,leaving Mumbai needing just five runs off the final six balls.