POTM: Harmanpreet Kaur (74*)
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By: Sportspress Senior Cricket Analyst
Date: January 10, 2026
Match: Mumbai Indians (MI) vs. Delhi Capitals (DC)
Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium / DY Patil (Context dependent)
Result: Mumbai Indians won by 50 runs
Player of the Match: Harmanpreet Kaur
They say you should never poke a sleeping bear. In the Women’s Premier League (WPL), you should never doubt the Mumbai Indians after a loss.
After a disappointing start to their campaign yesterday, the defending champions roared back to life in spectacular fashion. Facing a Delhi Capitals side led by the young and energetic Jemimah Rodrigues, Mumbai Indians delivered a performance that was clinical, brutal, and absolutely dominant.
With Harmanpreet Kaur and Nat Sciver-Brunt putting on a batting masterclass, and the bowlers dismantling the Delhi top order inside the Powerplay, this match was effectively over before the second strategic timeout.
Here is the complete, blow-by-blow analysis of how Mumbai Indians crushed the Delhi Capitals by 50 runs.
"Before diving into the match highlights, if you haven't read our detailed Pre-Match Analysis & Prediction yet, check it out here to see how we expected the game to unfold: 👉 [Read Previous Article]"
CHAPTER 1: The Mumbai Indians Batting – From Disaster to Domination
The match didn't start perfectly for Mumbai. After losing the toss and being asked to bat, there was immediate tension in the MI camp.
Amelia Kerr, one of their most reliable stars, was dismissed for a Golden Duck early in the innings by Chinelle Henry. At that moment, Delhi Capitals fans would have felt a surge of hope. Was another collapse on the cards?
The Recovery: Sciver-Brunt & G Kamalini
But champions don’t panic. After Kerr's departure, Nat Sciver-Brunt joined forces with G Kamalini to steady the ship. They didn't just block; they calculated. They weathered the early storm from the Delhi pacers and slowly shifted the momentum.
The Explosion: Nat Sciver-Brunt (70 off 46)
Nat Sciver-Brunt looked like a completely different player compared to the previous match. She anchored the middle overs beautifully.
- The Knock: She scored a brisk 70 runs off just 46 balls.
- The Impact: This was her ninth WPL fifty. She found the gaps with surgical precision, punishing anything short and rotating the strike to keep the scoreboard ticking. Her innings ensured that MI didn't stagnate in the middle phase, which has been an issue for other teams.
- The Dismissal: She eventually fell to Sree Charani, but by then, the damage had been done.
The Finisher: Harmanpreet Kaur (74* off 42)
If Sciver-Brunt was the anchor, Harmanpreet Kaur was the engine. The MI skipper played a captain’s knock, remaining unbeaten on 74 off 42 balls.
- The Mindset: Harmanpreet mentioned in the post-match presentation that she carried the same positive mindset from the last game, despite the team's loss.
- The Final Over: The real carnage happened at the death. Harmanpreet unleashed her fury in the final over, smashing 19 runs to push the total to a daunting 195/4. Those final 19 runs mentally broke the Delhi Capitals before they even walked out to bat.
CHAPTER 2: The Delhi Bowling – A Mixed Bag
It was a tough day for the Delhi bowlers. While they started well with the wicket of Kerr, they had no answers to the onslaught that followed.
- Nandni Sharma (The Debutant): The shining light for Delhi was the debutant, Nandni Sharma. In a high-scoring game, she finished with impressive figures of 2 for 26. She showed heart and skill against world-class batters.
- The Others: Chinelle Henry and Sree Charani picked up one wicket each, but they couldn't stop the flow of runs. The lack of wickets in the middle overs allowed MI to build a massive partnership that took the game away.
Score at Half-Time: Mumbai Indians 195/4 (20 Overs).
Target for Delhi Capitals: 196.
CHAPTER 3: The Chase – Delhi Capitals Crumble Under Pressure
Chasing 196 is a mammoth task in T20 cricket. It requires a "flyer" in the Powerplay. Unfortunately for Delhi, they got a nightmare.
The Top Order Collapse
The chase was effectively killed in the first 6 overs. Delhi Capitals lost four wickets inside the Powerplay.
It was a procession of stars walking back to the pavilion:
- Shafali Verma: The dangerous opener fell for a single digit.
- Laura Wolvaardt: The classy South African could not get going and was dismissed cheaply.
- Jemimah Rodrigues: Playing her first game as captain on home soil, Jemimah had a forgettable outing, also falling for a single digit.
- Marizanne Kapp: The veteran all-rounder departed in quick succession, leaving the middle order exposed.
When your top 4 batters—who are arguably some of the best in the world—fail to fire, chasing 195 becomes mathematically impossible.
The Lone Warrior: Chinelle Henry (56 off 33)
Amidst the ruins, one player stood tall. Chinelle Henry produced a spirited resistance that saved Delhi from total humiliation.
- The Fight: She scored a fighting 56 runs off 33 balls.
- The Shots: She smashed a massive six over deep mid-wicket off Nicola Carey to bring up her fifty. It was a lone effort that narrowed the margin of defeat but could not change the result.
- Support: She got brief support from Sneh Rana, who hit a six off Nat Sciver-Brunt before getting caught at mid-off.
CHAPTER 4: The Mumbai Bowling – A Tactical Masterclass
Mumbai Indians completely flipped the script from their previous loss. Their bowling unit was disciplined, aggressive, and relentless.
- Nicola Carey: She was the destroyer-in-chief early on. Her effective seam-up deliveries broke the back of the Delhi batting lineup in the Powerplay. She also took the crucial catch to dismiss Chinelle Henry.
- Amelia Kerr: After a duck with the bat, Kerr redeemed herself with the ball. She cleaned up the tail, finishing with 3 wickets. Her wicket of Minnu Mani (caught by G Kamalini) and Chinelle Henry (caught by Carey) sealed the game.
- Shabnim Ismail: The speedster was the most economical bowler of the night. She conceded just 14 runs in her spell and claimed a vital wicket. In a T20 game where the opposition is chasing 195, giving away just 14 runs is gold dust.
- Nat Sciver-Brunt: To cap off her Player of the Match performance, she also chipped in with 2 wickets, removing Sneh Rana at a crucial juncture.
CHAPTER 5: Post-Match Reactions & What It Means
Harmanpreet Kaur (Winning Captain & POTM):
Harmanpreet was understandably delighted. She credited the team for bouncing back well after the disappointment of the previous game.
"When you take 10 wickets in a T20 game, you can't ask any more from your team," she said. She also highlighted the freedom the management gives the players to express themselves.
Jemimah Rodrigues (Losing Captain):
It was a tough debut for Jemimah as skipper. She admitted that while they bowled decently in patches, the lack of partnerships with the bat cost them the game.
"It was just one of those days... we can't be too harsh on ourselves," she reflected. She emphasized the need to put this loss aside quickly due to the quick turnaround of fixtures.
Amelia Kerr:
Kerr was honest about her own performance, stating she wasn't happy with her personal game but praised the partnerships of Nat and Harmanpreet that set up the win.
Conclusion: Mumbai Indians Are Back!
This victory was a statement. Mumbai Indians have opened their "points locker" in style.
They ticked every box:
- Batting: 195 runs on the board.
- Partnerships: A massive stand between Sciver-Brunt and Harmanpreet.
- Bowling: Bowled out the opposition for 145.
- Fielding: Sharp catches, including Amanjot Kaur’s catch to dismiss the final batter, Nandni Sharma.
For Delhi Capitals, it is back to the drawing board. They were beaten comprehensively in all three departments. They need to fix their top-order fragility before their next game.
Final Scorecard Summary:
- Mumbai Indians: 195/4 (Harmanpreet 74*, Sciver-Brunt 70)
- Delhi Capitals: 145 All Out (Henry 56, Kerr 3/24)
- Result: Mumbai Indians won by 50 runs.
Upcoming Fixture Alert 📅
The action in the WPL continues!
Match: Delhi Capitals Women vs. Gujarat Giants Women
Date: Sunday, 11th January
Time: 7:30 PM IST
Make sure to tune in to see if Jemimah’s Delhi can bounce back or if the Giants will heap more misery on them!
FAQ: WPL Match 3 Result
Q1: Who won the match between MI and DC?
Ans: Mumbai Indians won the match by 50 runs.
Q2: Who was the Player of the Match?
Ans: Harmanpreet Kaur was awarded Player of the Match for her unbeaten 74 runs and leading the team to victory.
Q3: How many runs did Nat Sciver-Brunt score?
Ans: Nat Sciver-Brunt scored a brilliant 70 runs off 46 balls and also took 2 wickets.
Q4: Did Delhi Capitals bat first or second?
Ans: Delhi Capitals opted to bowl first after winning the toss.
Q5: Who was the top scorer for Delhi Capitals?
Ans: Chinelle Henry was the top scorer with 56 runs off 33 balls.
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