Meg Lanning and Harmanpreet Kaur exchanged smiles and fortunately posed for footage with the Women’s Premier League (WPL) trophy on the eve of the much-awaited ultimate. The two addressed the media collectively after which walked across the Brabourne Stadium, obliging the tv crew with video bytes and footage.
Even because the temperature soared on Saturday afternoon, each Lanning and Harmanpreet regarded nonchalant and clearly, had been below no stress forward of the summit conflict between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians.
Over the previous couple of years, Harmanpreet and Lanning have met one another in a match ultimate twice – the T20 World Cup in 2020 and the Commonwealth Games ultimate final yr – donning the Indian and Australian colors respectively. And on each the events, Lanning’s staff got here out victorious.
However, Harmanpreet clarified that she is going to stroll onto the sphere on Sunday, with out fascinated by the previous and can deal with clinching the title for Mumbai Indians.
“This is a different scenario, our team is doing well and so is Meg Lanning’s team. Whatever happened is in the past and we cannot change that. We want to do well in the future,” Harmanpreet mentioned with a smile as Lanning regarded on.
Having led Delhi Capitals from the entrance, the soft-spoken Lanning additionally goals for an ideal end after displaying high-intensity cricket during the last fortnight. Delhi Capitals dominated the second half of the match and stormed straight into the ultimate in model, whereas Mumbai Indians got here into the ultimate using on an all-round staff effort towards UP Warriorz within the eliminator.
Focus on Sciver-Brunt
The different evening, Mumbai banked on Nat Sciver-Brunt’s belligerent half-century to romp residence, however within the ultimate, the staff shall be hoping for captain Harmanpreet to step up and ship. She began off with three half-centuries, however because the match progressed, the India captain has seen a dip in type with scores of 25, 23, 2 and 14. And forward of the summit conflict, Harmanpreet must journey on her expertise and be sure that she leads from the entrance on the Brabourne Stadium, the place Mumbai has gained all three video games to date.
Sciver-Brunt’s unbeaten 72 paved the best way for Mumbai’s victory within the eliminator.
| Photo Credit: EMMANUAL YOGINI
The focus, nonetheless, will nonetheless be on Sciver-Brunt after her heroics within the eliminator. Coming in at a time when the staff was precariously positioned, the England worldwide clobbered the Warriorz bowlers throughout the park. The Mumbai Indians followers shall be hoping for her to come back out all weapons blazing within the ultimate as properly.
She is the third-highest run-scorer with 272, at an enviable common of 54.40. And not simply with the willow, she has additionally claimed 10 wickets in 9 video games. And this all-round brilliance makes her some of the sought-after gamers within the match and it will be a problem for the Capitals to cease her from happening yet one more rampage.
Kapp exhibits the best way
In the match to date, each Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals have been ruthless and scientific at numerous levels and after a somewhat low-profile begin, the Capitals have gone on to flex muscle groups. And with Lanning, who dons the Orange Cap with 310 runs in her kitty, round, the staff hopes to stay calm and play to its power. While the Indian batters have been somewhat on and off with their performances, all-rounder Marizanne Kapp has been the highest performer with 159 runs and 9 wickets in eight matches. Her all-round performances have turn out to be useful for the Capitals in crunch occasions and so as to add to it, the younger Alice Capsey has proved her mettle with some power-hitting within the center overs.
Marizanne Kapp has been the standout for the Delhi outfit with each bat and ball.
| Photo Credit: KUNAL PATIL/PTI
And, when Lanning takes the sphere on Sunday, it will be attention-grabbing to see how she handles her gamers and whether or not she decides to carry again Tara Norris. Jemimah Rodrigues has struggled within the match to date, whereas Shafali Verma has did not convert breezy begins. But each the gamers have immense expertise and sufficient expertise to rise to the event and ship and Capitals will anticipate them to step up when it issues essentially the most.
The Saika issue
However, by way of spin bowling, Mumbai has the sting with Saika Ishaque in its ranks. The spinner from Kolkata has been the flavour of the season, offering her staff with well timed breakthroughs. She is simply two wickets away from changing into WPL’s highest wicket-taker forward of UP Warriorz’ Sophie Ecclestone (16), and the ultimate will give her a possibility to not solely obtain the non-public milestone, but additionally pave the best way for the staff’s victory.
Young Isabelle Wong, who claimed a hat-trick within the eliminator, too has confirmed her value with 13 wickets, adopted by Amelia Kerr (12 wickets).
So, when the 2 groups meet for one final time on this version of the match, some fiery performances will definitely be on show. While Lanning want to add the WPL trophy to her cupboard after successful the T20 World Cup in South Africa lately, for Harmanpreet, it will likely be a possibility to settle scores with ‘Captain Meg’ and information Mumbai Indians residence in a packed stadium.
Source web site: sportstar.thehindu.com
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