WPL 2024: Meg Lanning urges Delhi Capitals to 'get better' after narrow MI loss
Meg Lanning admitted that Delhi Capitals (DC) need to up their game if they are to stage a comeback in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024. On Friday, February 23, the Capitals lost to Mumbai Indians (MI) by 4 wickets in the opener at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.
After setting a target of 172 for the defending champions to chase down, DC stayed in the hunt throughout. However, Harmanpreet Kaur’s 55-run knock and Sajeevan Sajana’s last-ball six took the match away from them.
“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,” Lanning said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
‘MI bowled well up front’
After being put in to bat first, DC made a sedate start as Shabnim Ismail made Lanning and Shafali Verma work hard for their runs. In the powerplay, the Capitals scored only 26 runs and Lanning said that it turned out to be the difference between the 2 teams.
“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,” Lanning said.
Lanning also put forth the reasons why she preferred Alice Capsey bowling the last over ahead of the experienced 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,” Lanning added.
The Capitals are next scheduled to lock horns with UP Warriorz on Monday, February 26 in Bengaluru.
