Batting in the WPL final, Harmanpreet faced a dilemma. Walking in at 14 for 2 against a fired-up Delhi Capitals attack, should she play the way she knew best or curb her natural game to first rebuild?
She hadn't been used to coming in at a score so low all season. One shot bordering on the adventurous could well be the difference between putting up a match-winning score and losing the title. Harmanpreet decided to wait and play patiently. It helped that Nat Sciver-Brunt was at the other end. Her unflappable presence let Harmanpreet ease into her innings, giving her time to wait for the precise moment to flick the switch.
She scored 11 off her first 15 balls with one four, but smashed 55 off her next 29, hitting eight fours and two sixes, bringing up her half-century with a swat to the long-on fence. By then, Mumbai Indians had recovered enough to set up a daunting chase for DC.
Key moment
After spin came on, DC captain Meg Lanning cut off the leg-side pockets by stationing fielders at deep square and deep midwicket in an attempt to curb Harmanpreet's sweep. So instead Harmanpreet opened the face of her bat to glide the ball behind point, waited deep inside the crease to carve balls through cover, and used minimal width to pierce the infield on the off side. That she was able to unlock another side to her game - and not fall back on the sweep - caught even an astute tactician like Lanning slightly off guard.
The numbers
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150 Harmanpreet's strike rate in the final. The other MI batters combined to score 75 runs off 76 balls at a rate of 98.68.
What they said
"I had that belief that if I stayed there and kept rotating the strike, when Nat is there, I don't need to take too much pressure because she has been in great touch and she was doing the job for the team. I just wanted to support her at that time. That partnership with Nat was amazing."
- Harmanpreet Kaur
- Harmanpreet Kaur
The closest contender
Marizanne Kapp
93 not out v Brisbane Heat, WBBL, Brisbane
When Kapp walked in to bat, Melbourne Stars were tottering at 29 for 3 in the fifth over. That soon became 39 for 5. With swing, seam and spongy bounce on display, batting was all about survival. But Kapp, instead, launched a fierce counterattack to take Stars to 171 and they went on to win by 18 runs.
93 not out v Brisbane Heat, WBBL, Brisbane
When Kapp walked in to bat, Melbourne Stars were tottering at 29 for 3 in the fifth over. That soon became 39 for 5. With swing, seam and spongy bounce on display, batting was all about survival. But Kapp, instead, launched a fierce counterattack to take Stars to 171 and they went on to win by 18 runs.