DC extended their dominance in chasing games during WPL 2025 as they secured a convincing nine-wicket victory over MI in Bengaluru. This win not only solidifies their position at the top of the points table, but also marks their eighth win out of six games, while MI has six points from five matches.
MI started off with a strong attitude when they were sent in, however, their initial momentum changed after the dismissal of their openers. The middle order soon crumbled under the impressive bowling of Jess Jonassen and Minnu Mani, with each player claiming three wickets. Despite having all of their top five batters reaching double digits, none managed to surpass 22 runs. To boost the team’s final total to 123 for 9, Amanjot Kaur delivered an unbeaten 17 runs off ten deliveries towards the end.
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While DC was chasing a less-than-ideal target, Shafali Verma and Meg Lanning formed a strong partnership, putting up 85 runs for the opening wicket in just 9.5 overs. Verma was dismissed for 43 off 28 deliveries, but Lanning continued to dominate. She reached her second fifty of the season in 40 balls and remained unbeaten on 60 off 49 balls.
The brakes were applied by DC to halt MI’s quick beginning.
The match started off favorably for MI as Yastika Bhatia and Hayley Matthews wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard. Marizanne Kapp’s first delivery was met with a boundary by both batters, while Jonassen faced the same fate as Matthews hit two consecutive fours off her first two balls of the fourth over.
However, DC managed to slow down the scoring pace following this. During the sixth over, Shikha Pandey changed her bowling position and had Bhatia caught behind for 11 runs. As of now, Bhatia has scored a total of 38 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 84.44 in WPL 2025.
Immediately following, Matthews made an error in judgment and sent Annabel Sutherland directly to Shafali Verma at mid-off. There was also a missed opportunity for DC to catch Harmanpreet Kaur, who only had one run on the board. The eighth over saw her graze the ball, but it deflected between the wicketkeeper and slip. Closing out nine overs, MI’s score stood at 49 for 2.
Jonassen and Mani deliver impactful blows.
In the previous DC game, Jonassen’s batting earned her the Player of the Match award. However, tonight she displayed her expertise in bowling once again. Harmanpreet, after settling in, was determined to increase the pace. And in the tenth over, she smashed Sadhu over wide long-on for an impressive six measuring 79m. Shortly after, she utilized her finesse by shifting towards the off side and deftly placing a length ball to the left of short fine leg for a boundary.
Jonassen ended Jonassen’s innings early on 22, getting her lbw with an arm ball. MI still had Nat Sciver-Brunt, this season’s top run-scorer, at the crease. Prior to this match, Sciver-Brunt had recorded three fifties in four innings. Jonassen varied her pace and deceived her with flight. Sciver-Brunt attempted a shot too soon and ended up chipping it back to the bowler. Another flighted delivery from Jonassen resulted in G Kamalini being bowled out, giving her final figures of 3 for 25.
During the match, Mani quickly took out S Sajana and Amelia Kerr within three deliveries. The credit for Kerr’s dismissal could be shared between Mani and Sutherland. Mani expertly induced a top-edged pull from Kerr. Meanwhile, Sutherland, positioned at long-on, sprinted towards her right and made a spectacular full-length diving catch just inches above the ground. In addition, Sanskriti Gupta also fell to Mani as her attempted slog was easily caught by Jemimah Rodrigues at deep midwicket.
Lanning and Shafali are quickly making their way to the finish line.
Knowing the importance of early wickets, MI strategically set aggressive fields. Taking advantage of Lanning’s struggling form this season, she swiftly hit two consecutive fours off Shabnim Ismail in the initial over of their chase.
Unfortunately for MI, their strategy of bowling short to Shafali proved to be unsuccessful. Sciver-Brunt faltered, resulting in five wides being conceded. And when she did manage to execute it properly, Shafali wasted no time in sending the ball to the boundary. This trend continued in the fourth over as Shafali hit two fours and a six off Sciver-Brunt’s four deliveries.
Lanning delivered consecutive fours against Ismail at the opposite end, then repeated the same treatment to Matthews in the following over. By the end of the powerplay, DC had swiftly reached 57 runs without losing a wicket and had reduced the required rate to 4.78.
Despite the loosening of field restrictions, DC maintained their momentum. In the ninth over, Shafali confidently struck Kerr for two sixes down the ground. However, Amanjot finally put an end to their partnership by catching Shafali at deep midwicket.
At that point, the contest had ended. Lanning and Rodrigues needed only 28 balls to score the remaining 39 runs.
