Delhi Capitals vice-captain Jemimah Rodrigues has showered praise on Mumbai Indians all-rounder S Sajana, who guided his team to a four-wicket victory with a last-ball six in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2024 opener on Friday (February 24).
Speaking about Sajana, Rodrigues said that the debutant who lost almost everything in the Kerala floods rose to the occasion when her team needed 5 runs off 1 ball.
“What a story and more over what a player," she said.
It was a nail-biter between DC and MI at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. With the defending champions needing six runs on the final delivery, Sajana on her first delivery of the night, smashed Alice Capsey over long-on to seal the deal.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Rodrigues wrote, “The result was not what we hoped for but what a finish by Sajju the debutant! Comes from a humble background, lost almost everything in the Kerala floods, walks in when the team requires 1 ball 5 runs and hits an effortless six! What a story and more over what a player!"
Coming to the match, Delhi Capitals posted 171/5 in their allotted 20 overs after being asked to bat first. Alice Capsey was the top scorer with 75 off 53 balls. Rodrigues (42 off 24) and skipper Meg Lanning (31 off 25) also made vital contributions with the bat.
Nat Sciver-Brunt (2/33) and Shabnim Ismail were the pick of the bowlers for the Mumbai Indians.
In reply, MI lost Hayley Matthews for a two-ball duck. However, the defending champions didn't let their heads drop, finishing the powerplay with a score of 50/1. DC bounced back immediately with Arundhati Reddy dismissing Nat Sciver-Brunt (19) before her innings could take flight.
Subsequently, the duo of Yastika Bhatia and captain Harmanpreet Kaur added 56 runs for the third wicket. While Yastika was dismissed for 57, Harmanpreet forged a 44-run stand with Amelia Kerr.
Shikha Pandey used her experience to break their partnership. She breached Kerr's defence to end her time on the crease for a score of 24. With two overs left, MI needed 22 runs to get across the finishing line.
On the final ball of the second last over, Harmanpreet sent the ball flying into the stands to complete her fifty and bring the equation down to 12 runs in 6 balls. Skipper Meg Lanning handed the ball to Alice Capsey to see off the game for DC. She struck on the first ball and claimed Pooja Vastrakar's wicket.
Harmanpreet picked up a boundary to bring down the equation to 5 runs in 2 balls. With six needed to win the game, Sajana struck the ball to take MI over the finishing line.
(With PTI Inputs)
