Highlights:
- Mumbai Indians won their fourth consecutive match in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) with an impressive all-round performance against UP Warriorz.
- Saika Ishaque’s bowling figures of 3/33 played a crucial role in Mumbai Indians’ comeback after UP Warriorz had a solid start.
- Mumbai Indians comfortably chased down the target of 160, led by an unbeaten 53 from Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and 45 not out from Nat Sciver-Brunt.
On Sunday, Mumbai Indians displayed an impressive all-round performance, resulting in an eight-wicket victory over UP Warriorz, securing their fourth consecutive win in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in Mumbai. Saika Ishaque’s bowling figures of 3/33 played a crucial role in Mumbai Indians’ comeback, disrupting UP Warriorz’s innings after Alyssa Healy’s 58 and Tahlia McGrath’s 50 had given them a solid start. UP Warriorz collapsed from 140 for 3 in the 17th over to finish at 159 for 6 after opting to bat first. Mumbai Indians comfortably chased down the target of 160, led by an unbeaten 53 from captain Harmanpreet Kaur and 45 not out from Nat Sciver-Brunt, with Yastika Bhaita’s 42 at the top providing a strong foundation.
Mumbai Indians achieved 164 for 2 in 17.3 overs thanks to an unbeaten 106-run third-wicket partnership between Harmanpreet and Sciver-Brunt.
Bhatia took the initiative to bat first and made a significant contribution to Hayley Matthews’ opening wicket during their 58-run stand (12).
Bhatia sent the ball soaring over long-on off Rajeshwari Gayakwad in the seventh over following a flurry of boundaries during the powerplay. She lost for 42 from 27 balls with eight fours and a six on the following ball, though, when she shot straight to Simran Sheikh at deep midwicket.
When Sophie Ecclestone caught Matthews leg-before in the fifth over, there was drama and UP Warriorz were bound by a successful DRS appeal. As it turned out, a different delivery was visible on the review, the batter spoke with the bowler and the umpire.
However, Matthews’ surprisingly sluggish innings came to an end at 12 off of 17 balls when she handed Ecclestone a straightforward return catch.
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While they attempted to rebuild, Harmanpreet and Sciver-Brunt both had good fortune on their side in the eleventh over. The bails did not come off when Anjali Sarvani bowled Harmanpreet around the legs, so Sciver-Brunt did well to get to the crease in time to avoid a direct smash from Sheikh at cover.
Gayakwad’s delivery was edged by Sciver-Brunt on 22, which Ecclestone couldn’t manage to catch at cover, giving Mumbai Indians a lifeline. Adding insult to injury, Harmanpreet hammered consecutive boundaries, recording her second half-century in WPL. She scored nine fours and one six, staying unbeaten at 53 from 33 balls. Sciver-Brunt also contributed with a match-winning knock of 45 from 31 balls, striking six fours and one six.
In the first innings, Mumbai Indians’ Saika Ishaque’s 3/33 brought a halt to UP Warriorz’s charge, despite conceding ten boundaries in her four-over spell. She broke through early in the powerplay, dismissing Devika Vaidya, and returned in the 17th over to remove Alyssa Healy and Tahlia McGrath within a single over, helping Mumbai Indians regain control. Ishaque’s tally of 12 wickets in four WPL matches highlights her importance as Mumbai Indians’ leading wicket-taker.
UP Warriorz had partnerships in the middle, but they never really went on an all-out attack against Mumbai Indians’ bowlers. Even though Healy and McGrath got their second half-centuries of the tournament, the UP Warriorz captain made 58 off 46 balls, including seven fours and a six. Meanwhile, McGrath hit nine fours to score 50 off 37 balls, demonstrating remarkable timing and precision.