The first head-to-head of Australian captains in the Women's Premier League has been won by Meg Lanning whose Delhi Capitals team have defeated the UP Warriorz of Alyssa Healy.
However, the Australian who shone brightest was Tahlia McGrath who made a stunning 90 not out in a valiant attempt to pull off an improbable Warriorz victory.
McGrath's knock, the highest of the WPL so far, took just 50 balls, but she could not prevent Capitals winning by 42 runs.
Lanning had led from the front, opening the batting and smashing a 42-ball 70.
She was well-supported by fellow Australian Jess Jonassen who hit an unbeaten 42 in 20 balls as Delhi Capitals closed on 4-211 in their 20 overs.
Healy also opened, and hit her first two balls for four, but she became one of three wickets for official player of the match Jonassen, dismissed for 24 off 17 balls.
"She definitely hits me a lot in the nets so good to get one up over her," Jonassen said. "Always enjoyable to play fellow Australians."
That was the first of three wickets in six balls that left the Warriorz reply in deep trouble. Despite McGrath's defiance they were unable to recover and finished on 5-169.
The prospect of Queensland's Harris sisters facing off against one another failed to materialise due to restrictions on how many overseas players can be fielded, with Capitals omitting Laura and Warriors leaving out Grace.
Put into bat in Mumbai, Lanning did not score from her first four deliveries, and while she hit her fifth and seventh for boundaries she had scored nine off her first 12 balls.
She then drove Shabnim Ismail over long-on for six and was up and running. McGrath dismissed the Capitals' other opener Shafali Verma for 17 with her third ball but Lanning was unperturbed, flying to a 32-ball 50 with a top-edged six to leg.
However, with Capitals 1-87 off nine overs - and Lanning 53 not out having scored 44 from the last 22 balls - rain intervened.
After a 20-minute break play resumed but after hitting Sophie Ecclestone, the world No.1 bowler, for successive fours, Lanning was bowled by Rajeshwari Gayakwad.
After a 21-run, 10-ball cameo from Alice Capsey, Jonassen and Jemimah Rodrigues (34 off 22) made the most of dropped catches to add 58 off the last four overs. McGrath ended with 1-37 off three overs.
"I've always loved opening in T20 cricket," Lanning, who is currently the tournament top scorer, said.
"It is the best place to bat. I'm thoroughly enjoying batting in India."
Healy admitted the match "didn't quite go to plan".
"We gave away a few too many in the field," she said.
"TMac (McGrath) was a lone hand with the bat. She was amazing. We just needed someone to go at more than a run a ball with TMac."
