Women’s T20 League 2023 : 5 best moments from the tournament

The inaugural edition of the Women’s T20 League has successfully concluded as Mumbai beat Delhi to clinch the first title of the tournament. While chasing 132 runs, Harmanpreet Kaur-led Mumbai outplayed Meg Lanning’s Delhi and beat them by seven wickets. Nat Sciver-Burnt and Healy Matthews shined in Mumbai’s historic victory. Sciver-Burnt scored 60 off 55 balls, while Matthews clinched three wickets.

As the tournament has ended up with a historic game, we will look back to those moments which made the Women’s T20 League a success. These top moments have not only encouraged the players but also attracted the audience. Here are the top five moments of Women’s T20 League 2023.

5. Marizanne Kapp takes a five-wicket haul

Marizanne Kapp (Source: Twitter)

Star South Africa allrounder Marizanne Kapp was phenomenal in the first edition of the Indian T20 League. With her phenomenal cricketing experience, Kapp led Delhi to the finals. She has been exceptional with her all-around performance as she clinched nine wickets and scored 177 runs in nine games. Although, she has performed amazingly in the tournament her five wickets haul against Gujarat was a treat to the audience.

In their game against Gujarat in DY Patil Stadium, Kapp thrashed Gujarat’s batting lineup with an amazing performance. After winning the toss, Gujarat opted to bat first but the decision didn’t go well with them. Kapp opening the bowling for Delhi clinched five wickets in three overs putting Gujarat down to 33/6 in seven overs. Kapp dismissed Sabbhineni Meghana, Laura Wolvaardt, Ashleigh Gardner, Harleen Deol, and Shushma Verma. She ended up with the figures of 4-0-15-5. This is the best bowling figure of the Women’s T20 League even though it was the third five-wicket haul of the tournament.

4. Sophie Devine’s 99 off 36 balls

Sophie Devine (Source: Twitter)

The inaugural season of the Women’s T20 League was not an ideal season for the Bangalore franchise. The team lost the first five games in the league stage and ended up at the bottom of the tournament. However, Smriti Mandhana and company clinched two victories in the last three games to end with high morale. After losing the first five games, Bangalore was playing a do-or-die game against UP and they eventually won it by five wickets.

The team still had to beat Gujarat and Mumbai in the next two games to qualify for the playoffs. They were squared off against Gujarat in the 16th game of the tournament. After winning the toss, Gujarat opted to bat first and the decision went well with the team. As Gujarat posted 188 runs after losing four wickets in 20 overs. Star South Africa batter Laura Wolvaardt shined with the bat for Gujarat as she hammered 62 runs off 48 balls to sail her team to a comfortable total.

While chasing 189 runs Bangalore opener Sophie Devine and Smriti Mandhana started toying with Gujarat’s bowling unit. Sophie, in her carnage, hammered 99 runs off 36 balls with the help of nine boundaries and eight maximums. After scoring the highest individual score in the tournament Sophie threw her wicket just before completing a much-deserved century. Bangalore eventually beat Gujarat by 8 wickets to survive in the tournament.   

3. Harmanpreet Kaur’s catch of the season

Harmanpreet Kaur (Source: Twitter)

India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur led Mumbai to the golden victory as they clinched the first title of the Women’s T20 League. Mumbai beat Meg Lanning’s Delhi in the finals by seven wickets to name the first-ever title of the tournament. This tournament was amazingly dominated by Mumbai as they have three batters in the top five run scorers while four bowlers in the top five wicket-takers.

However, Mumbai skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was adjourned as the best fielder of the tournament. She received the award for her amazing Catch against Allysa Healy’s UP. In the second over of UP’s innings, Healy Matthews successfully produced a thick edge of Vaidya. The ball went towards the right of the first slip and Harman, with an exceptional dive, made a clean catch to amaze the audience.

2. Ellyse Perry’s fastest delivery

Ellyse Perry (Source: Twitter)

Star Australian allrounder Ellyse Perry was roped in by Bangalore for a whooping sum of INR 1.7 Crore. Although Bangalore didn’t have a great season in the inaugural edition of the Women’s T20 League, Perry had an amazing season on a personal level. Perry hammered 253 runs in eight innings at an average of 42.17. She also clinched four wickets in eight games and has been the top performer for the Bangalore team.

Meanwhile, Perry also clinched a world record during the tournament by bowling the fastest delivery in women’s cricket. Perry, in the match against UP, clocked 130.5 KMPH in the 16th over of the game. She broke the previous record of Shabnim Ismail, who had clocked 127 KMPH against England in the semifinals of the Women’s 20-20 World Cup earlier this year.

1. Issy Wong’s Hat-trick in an eliminator

Issy Wong (Source: Twitter)

Mumbai won the inaugural trophy because of the ultimate team performance. They had top batters and bowlers on their team, who turned the game for them on various occasions. Mumbai started the season very well as they won the first four games without any disturbance. Although they lost two games in between and eventually ended up in the second position in the points table.

Mumbai failed to qualify directly for the finals and was made to play against UP in the eliminator. The team batted first and posted a huge total of 182 runs in 20 overs. In response, Allysa Healy and co failed to hold nerves against Mumbai’s bowling line-up. England’s star bowler Issy Wong clinched four wickets including a hat trick. She dismissed Kiran Nagvire, Simran Shaikh, and Sophie Ecclestone to complete the tournament’s first hat trick.

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