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Warriorz beat Mumbai Indians for first victory in Women’s Premier League

cricket28 February 2024 17:30| © MWP
By:Liryn de Jager
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An explosive opening partnership of 94 between UP Warriorz captain Alyssa Healy and Kiran Navgire laid the foundation for a seven-wicket victory over defending Women’s Premier League champions the Mumbai Indians at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India.

Set a winning target of 162 after the Indians scored an impressive 161 for six, the Warriorz finished on 163 for three with 21 balls to spare.

Navgire top scored with 57 of 31 balls.

This was the Warriorz’ first victory in this year’s competition and the Indians’ first defeat.

Healy, who earlier won the toss and decided to bat second, and Navgire were quick out the blocks in trying to chase down the winning total of 162 from 120 balls, scoring 51 runs in the first five overs.

They were also responsible for the highest powerplay score so far in this year’s competition, 61 runs in the first six overs.

Navgire brought up her half-century of just 25 deliveries with a massive six in the seventh over when she smashed Matthews over deep mid-wicket.

With the score on 94, Amelia Kerr finally managed the breakthrough when Navgire came out of her crease for a wild shot across the line and she was stumped for 57 (31b, 6x4, 4x6).

Issy Wong upset the applecart somewhat when she picked up two wickets in four balls in the 11th over that saw the Warriorz move to 98 for three.

First it was a successful television umpire review for lbw that saw the end of Tahlia McGrath for one. Then Saika Ishaque safely took care of a lobbed shot from Healy and the Warriorz captain was out for 33 (29b, 5x4).

The 50-run partnership between Grace Harris (27*) and Deepti Sharma (23*) was up in the 16th over. Sharma hit the winning runs with an impressive four.

CHAOS IN 13TH OVER

Earlier Matthews and Yastika Bhatia opened the batting for the Indians while Harris and Sophie Ecclestone ran in with ball in hand for the Warriorz.

Matthews survived an lbw appeal from a fired-up Harris in the fourth over and with her score on six.

On the other hand, her opening partner Bhatia early on let her bat do the talking, punishing Anjali Sarvani for 18 runs (3x4, 1x6) in the fifth over.

The Mumbai Indians’ 50 was up in the eight over with Matthews on 24 and Bhatia on 26.

The opening partnership was broken just one ball later when Bhatia (26, 22b, 3x4, 1x6) couldn’t quite get her timing right and Rajeshwari Gayakwad took an easy catch from a Harris delivery.

An explosive four by Matthews straight over Sharma’s head brought the score to 71 for one at the halfway mark of the innings.

Chaos reigned in the 13th over when the batters tried to steal a sneaky run. In the end, it was Nat Sciver-Brunt who was run out and had to walk back for 19 (14b, 2x4) with the score on 92.

The Indians lost their third wicket with the score on 105 after Matthews couldn’t properly get hold of a Rajeshwari Gayakwad delivery.

Harris took the catch on the long-on boundary and Matthews was out for 55 (47b, 9x4, 1x6).

With 13 deliveries remaining in the innings and the score on 134 for three, Kerr tried to get on with things.

She however misjudged a full Sharma delivery and was trapped lbw for 23 of 16 balls (1x4, 1x6).

After Kerr’s departure, the wickets of Pooja Vastrakar (18, 12b) and Anjala Sarvani (4, 2b, 1x4) fell in the last two overs.

Wong was the not out batter on 15 (6b, 1x4, 1x6) at the conclusion of the Indians’ innings.

TEAMS

UP Warriorz: Alyssa Healy, Vrinda Dinesh, Tahlia McGrath, Grace Harris, Shweta Sehrawat, Kiran Navgire, Poonam Khemnar, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Anjali Sarvani, Rajeshwari Gayakwad.

Mumbai Indians: Hayley Matthews, Yastika Bhatia, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Pooja Vastrakar, Amanjot Kaur, S Sajana, Humaira Kazi, Issy Wong, SB Keerthana, Saika Ishaque.

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