The Delhi Capitals (DC) cricket squad is feeling sad. For three years in a row, they played really well and reached the Women’s Premier League (WPL) final.
But each time, they lost the final match. This year, they lost again to Mumbai Indians (MI), even though they started the match strongly. Follow Bpexch for more cricket news.
A Strong Start but a Tough Finish
DC’s coach, Jonathan Batty, was proud of his team. He said that the players were very positive and did not feel worried about losing the last two finals. “The girls have been fantastic and worked very hard,” he said.
At the beginning of the match, DC’s bowlers did a great job. Marizanne Kapp took important wickets early, making it hard for MI to score.
In the first six overs (called the PowerPlay), MI only scored 20 runs. DC was happy because they thought MI might score 180 runs, but they only reached 149.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s Powerful Batting
Just when DC thought they had the game in control, MI’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, played an amazing innings. She scored 66 runs from 44 balls.
Along with her teammate Nat Sciver-Brunt, she helped MI come back into the game. Their partnership of 83 runs made a huge difference.
Even though DC tried to stop them, Harmanpreet was too good. She hit the ball hard and fast, making it tough for DC to stay in control.
“Maybe the Occasion Got to the Players”
When it was DC’s turn to bat, they needed 150 runs to win. It was a score they thought they could chase, but things didn’t go as planned. DC lost by eight runs.
Coach Batty said, “Maybe the occasion just got to the players,” meaning the pressure of playing in such an important match might have made them nervous.
He also praised MI for defending their score well and making it hard for DC to catch up.
Meg Lanning: An Effective Manager
The loss was especially tough for DC’s captain, Meg Lanning. She has won many trophies for Australia but hasn’t been able to win the WPL.
Coach Batty still believes in her. He said, “She is a great leader and has led the team well for three years.”
What Happens Next?
DC knows losing is hard, but they are proud of how they played. Coach Batty said they would take time to think about what went wrong but reminded everyone that cricket is unpredictable. “We lost by just two boundaries,” he said. “Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose.”
Even though they lost the final again, DC will keep trying. Maybe next year will be their year to finally win the WPL trophy!
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