MI vs DC WPL 2024: Sajeevan Sajana’s Last-Ball Six Breaks Delhi Capitals Hearts As Mumbai Indians Win Thriller

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Sajeevan Sajana announced her arrival to the Women's Premier League with a last-ball six as Mumbai Indians sealed a thriling 4-wicket win over Delhi Capitals in WPL 2024 opener on Friday (February 23) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

With 5 needed off the final ball of the match following the dismissal of skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, the 29-year-old Sajana showed no sign of nerves as she launced one off Alice Capsey over the ropes to seal the last-ball thriller for the defending champions.

Before Sajana's last-ball six broke Delhi Capitals hearts, Harmanpreet (55 off 34 balls) and Yastika Bhatia (57 off 45 balls) to dig Mumbai Indians out of trouble with a 56-run stand.

Amelia Kerr (24 off 18 balls) also played a handy knock for MI, while Arundhati Reddy and Capsey, who bowled only the final over, claimed two wickets each for Delhi Capitals.

Earlier, put into bat, knocks from Capsey, Jemimah Rodrigues and Meg Lanning helped Delhi Capitals (DC) to post a total of 171 runs with the loss of five wickets.

Capsey (75 off 53 balls) shared a 64-run stand with skipper Lanning, who scored 31 off 25 balls. Capsey then continued to pile on the runs along with Rodrigues who scored crucial 42 runs off 24 balls with five fours and two sixes.

Kapp scored 16 runs off nine balls in the end with the help of three fours. For the Mumbai Indians side, the pick of the bowlers was Nat Sciver Brunt and Amelia Kerr, who snapped two wickets each in their spells, while Shabnim Ismail claimed one wicket.

MI vs DC WPL 2024 Match 1 Awards List

• Player of the match: Harmanpreet Kaur (Mumbai Indians)
• Punch.ev Electric Striker of the match: Jemimah Rodrigues (Delhi Capitals)
• Sintex Sixes of the match: Alice Capsey (Delhi Capitals)

MI vs DC WPL 2024 Match 1 Post Match Presentation Ceremony

Losing captain, Lanning said: "It was sliding on and Mumbai bowled a tight length and kept it tight. Generally it was pretty good for bowlers, Mumbai bowled pretty well upfront which probably was the difference.

"We thought we were in the game, we would have liked a few more. We fought to take it to the last ball, unfortunately it was not to be. For most part we executed pretty well, short side and Yastika as the left-hander complicated things.

"For the first game considering we got one week before it was a good effort. We sort of nearly snuck in the end. When we got Kaur out, we were in the game, but to come out and get a six like that first ball is pretty impressive."

On Capsey bowling the last over, Lanning said: "The big side to the right-handers, spearing the ball to get their batters to hit to the longer side was the plan."

Winning captain and player of the match, Harmanpreet said: "Happy where we ended. Really happy with the way we played. I would love to give credit to my batting coach, Himanshu bhaiya.

On form coming into WPL, Harmanpreet said: "After that Australia tour, I was not confident, he made me practice hard and gave me energy. I was not playing domestic cricket, I was not feeling great. Mentally that break helped me."

On the picth and the match winner, the MI skipper said: "Wicket looked fine while batting, we thought if we took the game deep, we felt we could win. She (Sajana) was smacking sixes during the practice session and she showed us tonight.

"We were looking to finish the game in the first 3 balls but we know we have depth in our batting, because of Sajana I'm standing here. Batting first or second does not matter, only conditions matter and according to that we change."

What's next for Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians in WPL 2024?

Lanning-led DC will look to bounce back when they face UP Warriorz on Monday (February 26) at the same venue in Bengaluru, where Harmanpreet's MI will face Gujarat Giants on Sunday (February 25).