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3 Most iconic matches of WPL Inaugural season
After waiting for years the Women’s Premier League began in 2023. Five teams contested for the title in the inaugural season. Mumbai Indians led by Harmanpreet Kaur won the title by beating Delhi Capitals in the finals.
The entire tournament witnessed some amazing cricketing action. The biggest names in current Women’s cricket saw jam-packed stadiums who lend their support. As the second season is getting closer the anticipation is running high amongst fans.
Also Check: WPL 2024: 3 Oldest Cricketers to feature this season
In this story, we cast a look at the 3 most iconic matches of WPL’s inaugural season.
First match of WPL 2023 – Gujarat Giants vs Mumbai Indians
WPL Season1 (Source-Twitter)
Just like the first-ever game of the IPL, the inaugural match of WPL saw a lop-sided contest. Mumbai Indians batted first and scored 207 runs on the board for the loss of 5 wickets. Opener Hayley Matthews scored 47 runs, while the top scorer was Harmanpreet Kaur with 65.
Amelia Kerr scored 45 not out of 24 balls as the MI batters decimated Gujarat’s bowling. Needing 208 to win, Saika Ishaque did the damage with the ball picking 4/11 from 3.1 overs. Dayalan Hemalatha was the top scorer for the Giants with 29 no out as only two batters reached double figures.
First ever ten-wicket win in WPL history – UP Warriorz vs Royal Challengers Bangalore –
WPL Season1 (Source-Twitter)
Smriti Mandhana and her Royal Challengers Bangalore side didn’t have a great first season. The team finished in the 4th place with four points from the 8 games they played. Their most embarrassing loss came during the 8th match of the season. UP Warriorz registered the first-ever ten-wicket win in the history of WPL. This made this game one of the most iconic matches of Season 1.
Batting first RCB scored 139 on the board with Ellyse Perry scoring 52. Sophie Devine scored 36 while skipper Smriti Mandhana could only score four runs. English spinner Sophie Ecclestone picked four wickets for the UP outfit.
Chasing 140 for a win, Alyssa Healy decided to show her class to the massive Indian audience. The Australian legend scored 96 not out from just 47 balls. Fellow opener Devika Vaidya was not out on 47 as UP Warriorz won the game by ten wickets. This was the first ever ten wickets in the history of the WPL tournament.
First final in WPL tournament history
WPL Season1 (Source-Twitter)
After 8 games in the league phases and the playoffs, the first season of WPL reached its finale. Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals played one of the most iconic matches of WPL season 1. Delhi Capitals batted first and scored 131/9 from their 20 overs with Meg Lanning scoring 35. Shikha Pandey then scored 27 not out to take her team to some respectability.
Hayley Mathews and Yastika Bhatia fell early to leave Mumbai Indians at 23/2 to give Delhi some hope. Natalie Sciver-Brunt took centre stage with an amazing 60-not-out to help her team win. Harmanpreet Kaur scored 37 as Amelia Kerr was not out on 14. The winning hit was a four by Natalie Sciver Brunt as Mumbai Indians created history.