The second match of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 saw an intense contest at Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara, where Mumbai Indians Women (MIW) faced Delhi Capitals Women (DCW). After winning the toss, Delhi opted to bowl first, and their bowlers executed their plans expertly, leading MIW to be bowled out for 164 runs in just 19.1 overs.
From the outset, it was clear this match would be fiercely contested. Shikha Pandey's opening over was eventful as she struck early, dismissing Mumbai's star opener Hayley Matthews for just two runs, with Meg Lanning completing the catch at slip. The MIW batting lineup faced early pressure, quickly falling to 32 for 2, with Yastika Bhatia also falling victim to Pandey soon after.
Responding to their early troubles, MIW’s Nat Sciver-Brunt took charge of the innings. Sciver-Brunt showcased her remarkable skill with the bat, scoring 80 runs off 59 balls, anchoring the innings amid the fall of wickets around her. She brought much-needed stability after the loss of captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who contributed 42 runs off just 22 balls, attacking the bowling with four boundaries and three sixes.
“An enterprising knock ends for Harmanpreet Kaur who scored 42 off 22,” tweeted the Women's Premier League (@wplt20). Kaur’s innings was marked by explosive stroke play, particularly against Annabel Sutherland, where she scored 18 runs off four balls, including three boundaries and one six during the 11th over, bringing the team's total swiftly past the 100-run mark. Despite the promising partnership between Sciver-Brunt and Kaur, MIW's batting crumbled after Kaur's departure, and they lost momentum dramatically.
Delhi's bowlers, especially Pandey and Sutherland, were instrumental. Pandey claimed two wickets for just 14 runs, pitching the ball consistently on target and applying pressure. Annabel Sutherland shone as well, taking three wickets for 34 runs and delivering key breakthroughs during Mumbai's collapse.
“Shikha Pandey's early strike on Hayley Matthews was pivotal,” reported IANS, highlighting the importance of their strong bowling performance. Mumbai's final five overs were disastrous, losing six wickets for just 31 runs, failing to maximize their middle-order acceleration, and handing the advantage back to Delhi.
With the target of 165 established, Delhi Capitals now had the confidence and momentum needed to chase down the runs. They boasted a deep batting lineup featuring experienced players like Shafali Verma and Meg Lanning, preparing to set their mark as they entered the second innings. Given Mumbai’s shaky browsing performance, the expectations were high for Delhi to capitalize on this opportunity.
Looking back at MIW's innings, their struggles were evident after losing both openers early. The middle-order partnership briefly lit things up, but with too many contributions falling short—only two players managed to reach double digits besides Sciver-Brunt and Kaur—the target might not be sufficient against such strong competition.
“Sciver-Brunt’s performance remains the highlight for MIW, scoring 80 not out,” the report stated, offering recognition to her admirable effort even as the team faltered around her. The final analysis places MIW under pressure to rise to defend their total against strongly motivated DCW batters, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting chase.
The upcoming battle saw not just the match up of bowler versus batter but also each team’s approach to recovering from early weaknesses. While MIW has the firepower within their bowling ranks, it remains to be seen whether they can fend off Delhi’s aggressive batting strategy built around their explosive lineup.
The WPL 2025 remains thrilling, with every match creating narratives of struggle, triumph, and skill, as both teams aim for glory and redemption. Now, with the chase set to begin, cricket fans can anticipate whether Delhi will smoothly triumph over Mumbai’s total or if the Mumbai bowlers can initiate a turnaround and defend their total with resilience and flair.
Stay tuned as the WPL 2025 league continues, showcasing incredible talent and heart within women’s cricket!