WPL 2023

Mumbai Indians will now face Delhi Capitals in the final of the WPL 2023 on Sunday. England all-rounder Sciver-Brunt's blistering half-century propelled Mumbai Indians to 182-4 in 20 overs. Dropped when she was on 6 by Ecclestone, Sciver-Brunt made UP Warriorz pay dearly.

Dropped when she was on 6 by Ecclestone, Sciver-Brunt made UP Warriorz pay dearly. Apart from her, the likes of Amelia Kerr (29), Hayley Matthews (26), Yastika Bhatia (21) and Harmanpreet Kaur (14) got starts but couldn't convert them into big innings for Mumbai.

On Tuesday, Alice was the star performer for the Capitals, taking 3/26 with her off-breaks and then hitting 34 off 31 balls to take the side directly to the final, scheduled for March 26 by chasing down 139 in 17.5 overs, ensuring that the Meg Lanning-led side progressed to the title clash in their very first season of the WPL.

Chasing a target of 139 against UP Warriorz, Delhi had a quota of 19.4 overs to achieve superior NRR over Mumbai Indians. Capitals were 70/3 by the close of seventh over, when Capsey came to bat. In her typical style, she hit 34 off 31 with four boundaries and one six, leading Delhi to five-wicket win on Tuesday night.

Capsey claimed 3-26 off her four overs as Delhi Capitals restricted UP Warriorz to 138/6 in their 20 overs -- a blazing 32-ball 58 not out from Tahlia McGrath taking UP to where they eventually finished. Capsey came back to contribute with the bat too as she scored 34 off 31 balls after skipper Meg Lanning (39) and Shafali Verma (21) had raised 56 runs for the first wicket in the Power-play.

But the South African felt the bowling group deserved the award. "To be honest, the whole bowling group deserves this (player of the match) award. Everyone bowled well today. On this wicket, every time we win the toss I want to bowl first because the ball does quite a bit. Just happy with the win and the performance," she said in the post-match presentation ceremony.

Barring a 37-run partnership off 29 balls between captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Pooja Vastrakar, there wasn't much of note from Mumbai's batting. In reply, powerful 30s from Meg Lanning, Shafali Verma and Alice Capsey helped Delhi complete the chase in just nine overs.

Chasing 179, the Warriorz suffered a major blow early in the innings as Monica Patel struck in the second over to send skipper Alyssa Healy cheaply for 12. Healy was slightly early into her pull shot and got a top edge and the ball flew towards deep square leg, where Harleen Deol took an easy catch.

It is a clash between the top two teams of the competition who have already made it to the playoffs, with UP Warriorz joining them earlier in the day. But the race for the top spot and getting a direct entry into the final is still active, while the second-placed team will go into the eliminator against the third-ranked side.

After losing the three wickets inside the Power-play, Hemalatha (57 off 33) and Gardner (60 off 39) steadied the ship, scoring runs at a brisk pace. The duo stitched a stunning 93-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Meanwhile, Sophie Ecclestone took the top spot in the list of highest wicket-taker in the tournament.