Defending champions Mumbai Indians kicked off their TATA WPL 2026 campaign with a dominant 50-run victory over Delhi Capitals in Match 3 at the DY Patil Stadium.
Powered by a brutal unbeaten 74 from captain Harmanpreet Kaur and a composed 70 from Nat Sciver-Brunt, MI posted an imposing 195/4 before their bowlers, led by Amelia Kerr (3/24) and Nicola Carey (3/37), clinically restricted Delhi to 145 in 19.2 overs.
After being asked to bat, Mumbai suffered an early blow when Amelia Kerr edged Chinelle Henry to wicketkeeper Lizelle Lee in the first over. Nat Sciver-Brunt, the all-time leading run-scorer in WPL history, walked in at No. 3 and steadied the innings alongside G Kamalini. The pair took MI to 43/1 at the end of the powerplay before debutant Nandini Sharma claimed her first WPL wicket, with Lee taking another sharp diving catch to dismiss Kamalini.
Harmanpreet Kaur then joined Sciver-Brunt and the duo took complete control. Sciver-Brunt brought up her half-century while Harmanpreet used excellent footwork against spin to keep the scoreboard ticking. Their 66-run partnership pushed MI past 100 before Sree Charani broke through, dismissing Sciver-Brunt for a well-made 70 off 46 balls.
Nicola Carey provided late acceleration with a quickfire 21 off 12, adding 52 with Harmanpreet. The MI skipper capped the innings in style, hammering four consecutive boundaries in the final over to remain unbeaten on 74 off just 32 deliveries – her ninth WPL fifty – as Mumbai finished on 195/4.
Chasing 196, Delhi Capitals lost early wickets to slip to 35/4 inside the powerplay. Sciver-Brunt removed Lizelle Lee, while Carey struck twice in the fifth over with superb inswingers to dismiss Shafali Verma and Laura Wolvaardt. Skipper Jemimah Rodrigues fell cheaply next, brilliantly caught one-handed by 17-year-old G Kamalini diving to her right.
Carey continued her excellent spell by removing Marizanne Kapp, leaving DC at 73/5 at the halfway stage. Chinelle Henry counter-attacked with a spirited 56 off 33 balls – her second WPL fifty – but received little support. Once Amelia Kerr dismissed Henry in the 18th over, Delhi’s resistance ended and they were bowled out for 145, handing Mumbai a comprehensive victory.
Player of the Match
Harmanpreet Kaur
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