Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians once again delivered a thrilling contest, reminiscent of last year’s tournament opener when Sajana Sajeevan’s last-ball six secured victory for Mumbai.
Delhi Capitals
However, this time, it was Delhi who emerged victorious,
with Arundhati Reddy sealing the win by running two off the final delivery.
A True Team Effort
Fast bowler Shikha Pandey echoed the sentiment that this victory was a collective achievement. She praised debutant Niki Prasad for her composed knock of 35 off 33 balls, which brought the Capitals close to the finish line before Reddy’s decisive run.
“Last year’s opener was similarly intense, but we ended up on the losing side. This time, it’s gratifying to be on the winning end, especially since we weren’t at full strength with some key players unavailable,” Pandey reflected.
She also commended Prasad’s debut performance: “For Niki, playing her first high-intensity game and taking us so close was fantastic. I’d call this a complete team effort.”
Pandey’s Impact with the Ball
Before the dramatic conclusion, Pandey played a crucial role with the ball, delivering an impressive spell of 2 for 14. She struck early with the new ball, dismissing the dangerous Hayley Matthews for a duck.
Given the flat nature of the wicket,
she knew she had to be precise from the outset.
“I had a great time bowling. I knew that any magic with the new ball had to happen early because we saw from last night’s game that the wicket would be flat. My goal was to take wickets upfront, and fortunately, it worked today. It might not always, but I’m happy to have contributed,” she said.
Pandey has been focusing on improving
her swing bowling and was pleased to see her efforts pay off.
“A key part of my plan is to get early breakthroughs, and swing is crucial for that. I always tell myself I should be able to swing the ball straight from my hand, and I’ve been working on it. It was nice to see that effort come through.”
Mumbai’s Fighting Spirit
Mumbai Indians’ coach, Charlotte Edwards, expressed pride in her team’s resilience, particularly in the way they responded after Shafali Verma’s explosive 18-ball 43 in the PowerPlay.
“Looking at our bowling options, Shafali played brilliantly, and that’s the nature of T20 cricket. What made me proud was our response. We didn’t give up, we kept pushing and stayed aggressive,” Edwards stated.
Despite a strong 73-run partnership between Harmanpreet Kaur and Nat Sciver-Brunt, MI collapsed from 105 for 2 to 164 all out. They fell short of utilizing their full quota of overs, but Edwards wasn’t overly concerned. She identified Amelia Kerr’s run-out at the bowler’s end as a turning point.
“Following a big partnership like Harman and Nat’s can be challenging. They made it look so easy, and perhaps that didn’t help us. Amelia’s run-out was a big moment. She’s a calm player and could have guided us past 180, allowing Nat to play with more freedom. Towards the end, Nat had to farm the strike, and we lost a couple of wickets to run-outs. Not batting our full overs is an issue, but it’s not a major concern for me.”
Looking Ahead
With such a thrilling start to the tournament, both teams have set the stage for an exciting season ahead. Delhi will take confidence from this hard-fought victory, while Mumbai will look to bounce back stronger in their next outing.
