UP Warriorz rode on Sophie Ecclestone’s three-wicket haul (3 for 15) and Grace Harris’ 39 (28b, 7×4) at hand Mumbai Indians a five-wicket defeat, its first within the Women’s Premier League (WPL), and keep within the hunt for a playoff berth.
Coming into the fixture on the again of 5 consecutive wins, Mumbai Indians struggled to get going on the DY Patil Stadium on Saturday, after being put in to bat by the Warriorz captain Alyssa Healy.
Though openers Yastika Bhatia and Hayley Matthews supplied the group a brisk begin, citing 24 runs in 4 overs, with the latter hammering two consecutive sixes off Grace early on. But as Anjali Sarvani dislodged Bhatia’s leg stump and broke the momentum, Mumbai struggled to rebuild.
With the innings precariously positioned at 56 for two on the finish of the tenth over, England’s star left-arm spinner Ecclestone took management of issues with tight traces and lengths, guaranteeing that each Matthews and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (25) failed to interrupt free.
Matthews was caught behind by Healy off Ecclestone, whereas the Indian captain was despatched again to the dugout by compatriot Deepti Sharma, who claimed a few wickets to maintain MI’s run-flow beneath verify.
As the Warriorz spinners loved their second of glory, Mumbai Indians misplaced wickets at common intervals earlier than Issy Wong’s 19-ball 32 guided it to a aggressive 127. Coming in at a time when Mumbai Indians regarded directionless, Wong bought the home so as with 4 boundaries and a six earlier than a run out price her the wicket.
On a difficult floor, Warriorz, too, wobbled initially, with opener Devika Vaidya falling on the primary ball of the second over. Matthews bowled a flighted supply outdoors off stump, forcing Vaidya to lean ahead and drive. But she ended up discovering a thick edge and Harmanpreet dived to her proper and grabbed a one-handed catch.
As the Mumbai Indians followers cheered for his or her group, Kiran Navgire and Healy made probably the most of a few dropped catches and aimed to forge a partnership, earlier than the Warriorz captain was trapped leg earlier than by Wong within the first ball of the sixth over. Shortly later, Yastika despatched Navgire again with a left-handed stunner behind the stumps because the UP facet struggled at 27 for 3.
But Harris and Tahlia McGrath (38, 25b, 6×4, 1×6) held fort with a vital 44-run partnership to slowly sway the tie in direction of UP. The latter hit a flurry of boundaries and a six to make sure that the group reached 66-3 after 11 overs.
Though Amelia Kerr’s return catch minimize brief McGrath’s keep on the crease, Harris took the strain off with a few fours off Nat Sciver-Brunt. Playing in her fourth sport of the event, Harris regarded calm and composed and set the tone for Warriorz’ victory with one more elegant innings earlier than being caught by Wong off Kerr.
Ecclestone (16 not out off 17) and Deepti (13 not out off 14) ensured there have been no additional slip-ups. The two stitched 24 runs collectively and with 5 wanted from the final over, Ecclestone sealed it with a six to verify Warriorz remained on track to qualify for the knockouts.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com