A stellar performance inspired by Kiran Navgire led to UP Warriorz securing their first victory in the WPL 2024, defeating Mumbai Indians by seven wickets after facing two initial losses. Despite missing their captain Harmanpreet Kaur and top bowler Shabnim Ismail with niggles, Mumbai Indians managed to score 161, thanks to Hayley Matthews’s first half-century of the season. In response, Navgire took full advantage of her promotion in the batting order, smashing a rapid 57 off 31 balls, setting a solid foundation for the Warriorz. Despite a brief struggle in the middle overs, UP Warriorz successfully reached their target with 21 balls remaining.
Matthews- Bhatia’s Solid Start
Hayley Matthews and Yastika Bhatia laid a solid foundation for Mumbai Indians with a steady start after being put into bat. Yastika Bhatia’s aggressive batting in the powerplay, including three boundaries and a six off a single over, set the tone for the innings. Hayley Matthews then took charge against the spinners, hitting Rajeshwari Gayakwad for a four and a six immediately after the powerplay, and then punishing Deepti Sharma with three boundaries in five balls.
Despite a dropped catch by Deepti Sharma when Matthews was on 43, the MI opener reached her first half-century of the season off 44 balls. However, a miscommunication between Matthews and stand-in captain Nat Sciver-Brunt led to Sciver-Brunt’s run-out. Matthews showed a willingness to sacrifice her wicket but was thwarted by Sophie Ecclestone’s alertness on the field.
Middle-order contributions
Despite Hayley Matthews’s dismissal after her half-century, Mumbai Indians managed to reach a competitive total of 162, thanks to valuable contributions from the middle order. Rajeshwari Gayakwad claimed Matthews’s wicket, but the middle-order batsmen kept the scoreboard ticking with brisk innings. Amelia Kerr played a quickfire knock of 23 off 16 balls, including a six and a four in an over off Gayakwad.
Pooja Vastrakar’s efficient running between the wickets earned her 18 runs off 12 balls. Issy Wong, making her first appearance of the season, made an immediate impact by hitting a six off her first ball faced, bowled by Deepti Sharma. S Sajana too scored a boundary off her first ball. These contributions ensured that Mumbai Indians comfortably crossed the 160-run mark.
Kiran Navgire’s Assault on MI Bowling
UP Warriorz made a change to their batting order with Vrinda Dinesh injured her shoulder during the fielding, and promoting Kiran Navgire to open the innings, aiming for a fresh approach after two consecutive losses. The change immediately paid off as Navgire capitalized on Mumbai Indians’ absence of their main pace bowler, Shabnim Ismail.
Navgire launched an assault on the MI bowling attack, starting with four boundaries off Issy Wong’s opening over. As the spinners took the ball, Navgire shifted her focus to clearing the ropes, hitting a six off each of Saika Ishaque and Amelia Kerr, and two consecutive sixes off Hayley Matthews. This onslaught propelled Navgire to a blistering half-century off just 25 balls, marking her first fifty of the tournament.
Despite Kiran Navgire’s aggressive start and her quick half-century, the UP Warriorz faced a brief setback in their chase. Amelia Kerr made a strong comeback after being hit for boundaries in her first over, managing to stump Navgire shortly after she reached her fifty. Issy Wong then added to UPW’s troubles by convincing stand-in captain Nat Sciver-Brunt to review an lbw decision, which resulted in Tahlia McGrath’s dismissal. Wong continued her impact by dismissing Alyssa Healy two balls later. The Warriorz, who seemed well-set at 94/0, suddenly found themselves at 98/3, reminiscent of their earlier collapse in the tournament opener.
Harris and Sharma Steer UPW to Victory
Grace Harris and Deepti Sharma played crucial roles in guiding the UP Warriorz to a comfortable victory. Harris continued her aggressive batting display, scoring boundaries regularly to maintain the momentum of the chase. Deepti Sharma provided solid support, and the duo shared an unbroken 65-run partnership to ensure there was no collapse in the UPW batting line-up.
Despite Mumbai Indians frequently rotating their bowlers, Harris’s versatile batting style kept the pressure on them. The Australian all-rounder scored an unbeaten 38 runs, including six boundaries and a six off Hayley Matthews. Deepti Sharma, often criticized for her batting, silenced her critics with a quickfire 27 off 20 balls, featuring four boundaries, including the winning runs. Their partnership ensured UPW reached the target in just the 17th over, securing their first win of the tournament.
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