WPL Final: with what Mumbai & Delhi to battle for inaugural title

Mumbai: It is the title clash for the inaugural trophy of the Women's Premier League (WPL) on Sunday at the Brabourne Stadium. Here, when Harmanpreet Kaur-led Mumbai Indians (MI) and Meg Lanning's Delhi Capitals (DC) lock horns, both the skippers will have a part to play in addition to leading their respective teams to victory.

For MI, Harmanpreet's form is a huge concern, though Nat Sciver-Brunt is in good form. But for Lanning, she could be aiming the inaugural WPL title after the Australian skipper led her national team to a record-extending fifth-time win of the T20 World Cup in South Africa. Lanning is already the top scorer with 310 runs, averaging at 51.66, which includes two half-centuries.

Harmanpreet, the Indian skipper, was lit with three half-centuries early in the tournament, but her form left her there. If it wasn't for Nat Sciver's unbeaten 72 in the Eliminator against UP Warriorz on Friday, MI might not have seen the final.

DC had a calm and slow advance on the points table throughout the tournament but finally managed to reach the top and displace the MI, though only by run rates. Delhi skipper Lanning as wellallroundernder Marizanne Kapp played a fair share here.

Both MI and DC were ruthless, clinical, dominant and even unsuccessful in various stages of the tournament.

Even both made win over the other in two games they played each other.

Going by their record at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai Indians have the upper hand, having won all three games so far, while Delhi has two wins and a loss at the venue.

With the third-highest number of runs (272), two half-centuries, an enviable average of 54.40 and 10 wickets in nine games, Nat Sciver is one of the allrounders on show here. The England cricketer has, time and again, given commanding performances, and it will be hard for Delhi Capitals to stop the devastating batter in the summit clash.

Nat Sciver has been most destructive with the bat in the last five overs in WPL, something that the UP Warriorz found out on Friday night when she helped MI add 66 runs in the final five overs.

Another Mumbai Indiallroundernder Hayley Matthews (258 runs, 13 wickets in nine matches), has blown hot and cold of late but remains a vital cog in the team's line-up, while Yastika Bhatia will look to take a fearless approach with the bat again.

With two more wickets, Mumbai's Saika Ishaque (15) could finish as the WPL's highest wicket-taker ahead of UPW's Sophie Ecclestone (16). With the likes of Isabelle Wong (13 wickets) and Amelia Kerr (12) in their ranks, Mumbai Indians will hope for another good outing with the ball.

Delhi have had their share of highs and lows, but Lanning's captaincy, combined with an incredible all-round show from Marizanne Kapp (159 runs, 9 wickets in eight matches), has been the highlight for them. Alice Capsey's power-hitting in the middle overs can also make a strong dent.

While Delhi will once again back overseas stars to come good, their hopes will also be pinned on Indian stars Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Shikha Pandey and Radha Yadav.