DC Women vs MI Women, 1st Match at Bengaluru, WPL, Feb 23 2024 - Match Result

11:40pm And...breathe. What an opening night for the second season of the WPL. It began with an amazing opening ceremony, before the cricket took it up several notches. So much so that the second match, scheduled for tomorrow, could not come soon enough. We will be back with all the action as the Royal Challengers Bangalore take on the UP Warriorz. Until then, this is goodbye from me (Shashwat), Thilak and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Take care, folks!

Harmanpreet Kaur, the Mumbai Indians captain is also the Player of the Match: Happy with how it (the game) ended. Really happy with the way we played, everyone looked positive. I would love to give credit to one of my batting coaches Himanshu bhaiya. After Australia series, I was not feeling well. He made me practice hard and gave me energy. I wanted to take a break and feel mentally well. (On the run-chase) We thought if we take the game deep, we can win the game. Sajana has been smashing sixes throughout the practice sessions and she showed what she is capable of (tonight). We had depth in our batting, and because of Sajana, I am standing here (smiles). We wanted to chase because of the conditions. Batting first or second does not matter, what matters is the conditions.

Meg Lanning, Delhi Capitals captain: (On the pitch) It was reasonably good, it was sliding on. They bowled tough lengths and kept it straight. When you hit through the line and hit the gaps, the runs came. MI bowled well up front, which was probably the difference in the end. (On the score) We thought it was about par. We would have loved a few more. We bowled really well to take it to the last ball but it was not to be today. We executed well for the most part. It was a reasonable effort but we need to get better as the tournament goes on. Nearly snuck home in the end. Capsey bowling that last over - she did a great job. To come out and hit a six first ball like that is pretty impressive. (On bowling Capsey over Radha Yadav) Trying to hit the batters to the longer side was the theory and that played a big part in the decision. Credit to Mumbai for being clinical under pressure.

Amelia Kerr: Nice to be on the right side. To go out there and hit a six first ball on her first game was unbelievable. Cricket can go either way and we were just on the right side tonight. Pretty nice wicket, fast outfield, it was about giving ourselves a chance. We felt we would give ourselves a chance if we had wickets in hand and had to go at 10s. Every time you play, you want to contribute. Players are allowed to play good shots off you. Spinners were key for us last year and will be this year too, with the wickets probably getting slower. Lots of factors (decide what you are going to bowl). You want to be prepared, be as clear as possible and then just go out and execute.

Shravan: "What a start to the WPL.....WOWWW!"

11:20pm One of the most overused adjectives in sport is incredible but trust me, this was incredible. This game ebbed one way, flowed the other, until it all came down to the last ball. Capsey, who played a huge role in DC getting to 171 in the first place, came up short, with Sajana, who dropped Capsey in the first innings and was on debut, trumping her English counterpart.

Prior to that, Harmanpreet and Yastika played crucial hands, both of them scoring brisk fifties that kept MI in the run-chase, despite the early loss of Matthews. Sciver-Brunt and Kerr came up with decent cameos too.

DC, apart from being crestfallen, will also rue the chances they afforded Harmanpreet. They could not capitalise on dismissing Matthews early either, and their inability to tie down the MI batters in the middle overs meant that the defending champions were always slightly ahead of the game. Plenty of positives, though, and they will hope to build on that moving forward.

Sajana, on MI debut, out to bat, with MI needing five off the last ball

5 off 2. One six and it will be all over

A false start as Capsey pulls out at the last moment. Proper cat-and-mouse game

9 off 3 now. Harmanpreet on strike. This is the game right here

Amanjot is the new batter

Right. 12 needed off 6. Vastrakar on strike. Capsey to bowl. Who are you backing?

Vastrakar on strike. She can find the fence

22 needed off 12. One over will have to be bowled by either Capsey or Radha, with Sutherland most possibly bowling the other. Here is Sutherland

Momentum firmly with MI now. 30 off 18, and DC desperately need to break this partnership. Shikha Pandey back into the attack