Matthews kept quiet but MI lift second WPL title

MUMBAI, India (CMC):

There were no heroics from West Indies Women's captain Hayley Matthews this time around, but that didn't prevent the Mumbai Indians Women from lifting their second Women's Premier League (WPL) title after defeating the Delhi Capitals Women by eight runs in Saturday's final.

Playing at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai Indians posted 149 for seven from their 20 overs, with Matthews scoring just three runs from 10 balls.

The Mumbai Indians were led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who made 66 from 40 balls, while Nat Sciver-Brunt made 30 off 28 balls, in an otherwise disappointing batting performance by the home side.

Marizanne Kapp, Jess Jonassen and Shree Charani took two wickets apiece for the Capitals.

Sciver-Brunt then returned to grab three wickets as the Delhi Capitals were limited to 141 for nine from their 20 overs.

The contest seemed to be all but over when the Capitals slumped to 66 for five in the 11th over, but Kapp struck 40 from 26 balls and Niki Prasad made an unbeaten 23 to bring the visitors back into the match.

But with 14 runs needed off the final over, Sciver-Brunt held her nerve to concede just six runs and spark wild celebrations among the Mumbai Indians camp.

It was their second WPL title in three years, after winning the inaugural tournament in 2023.