Mumbai Indians record 4th straight win in WPL 2023 as they thrash UP Warriorz by 8 wickets

Mumbai Indians dished out an all-round show as y sauntered to an eight-wicket win over UP Warriorz to record ir fourth straight win in Women’s Premier League (WPL) here on Sunday.

Saika Ishaque (3/33) led Mumbai Indians’ fightback with ball to derail UP Warriorz, who looked set to register a competitive total after half-centuries from Alyssa Healy (58) and Tahlia McGrath (50).

UP Warriorz slumped from 140 for 3 in 17th over to finish at 159 for 6 after electing to bat, and with 160 to get, Mumbai Indians overhauled target on back of captain Harmanpreet Kaur's unbeaten 53 and Nat Sciver-Brunt's 45 t out, with Yastika Bhaita (42) playing a strong hand at top.

Harmanpreet and Sciver-Brunt added an unbeaten 106 for third wicket as Mumbai Indians reached 164 for 2 in 17.3 overs.

Bhatia took initiative of scoring at top, contributing heavily in her 58-run stand for opening wicket with Hayley Matws (12).

After a flurry of boundaries in powerplay, Bhatia sent ball flying over long-on off Rajeshwari Gayakwad in seventh over. But on next ball, she played straight to Simran Sheikh at deep midwicket, perishing for 42 off 27 balls with eight fours and a six.

re was drama in fifth over when Sophie Ecclestone trapped Matws leg-before and UP Warriorz were forced to take a DRS appeal successfully. batter had a word with umpire and bowler, as it turned out that a different delivery was shown on review.

Matws’ surprisingly slow innings, however, ended at 12 off 17 balls when she gave a simple return catch to Ecclestone.

Both Harmanpreet and Sciver-Brunt had luck on ir side in 11th over as y looked to rebuild. Anjali Sarvani bowled Harmanpreet around legs, but bails did t come off, and Sciver-Brunt did well to make crease just in time to survive a direct hit from Sheikh at cover.

In 14th over, Ecclestone failed to grab a tough chance at cover off Gayakwad to dismiss Sciver-Brunt on 22, and Harmanpreet added insult to injury by hitting consecutive fours.

Harmanpreet recorded her second fifty in WPL, hitting nine fours and one six to make 53 t out from 33 balls while Sciver-Brunt played yet ar match-winning kck of 45 t out from 31 balls with six fours and one six.

Earlier in first half, Ishaque claimed three wickets for 33 runs to help Mumbai Indians apply brakes on UP Warriorz charge.

Ishaque gave away 10 boundaries in her four-over spell, but she broke through at top, dismissing Devika Vaidya early in powerplay. She returned for her last in 17th over, removing Healy and McGrath from equation within one over to pull things back in Mumbai’s control.

Ishaque took her wickets tally to 12 in just four WPL games so far, cementing her position as Mumbai Indians’ go-to bowler when in need of breakthroughs.

Healy did bulk of scoring at top, adding 50 runs for second wicket with Kiran Navgire (17) and in company of her compatriot Tahlia McGrath, UP Warriorz captain added ar 82 runs to lay platform for a strong total.

Even though UP Warriorz formed vital partnerships in middle, at st did y really launch an all-out attack against Mumbai bowlers, who for first time in four matches were pushed on backfoot.

Both Healy and McGrath got ir second half-centuries respectively of tournament. UP Warriorz captain, who made a match-winning 96 t out in last match against Delhi Capitals, scored a 46-ball 58 with seven fours and a six.

On or hand, most impressive batter in UP Warriorz ranks was McGrath, who pierced field at will, rotated strike with ease and played some superb strokes on off-side with timing and precision.

lanky Australia and UP Warriorz all-rounder finished at 50 from 37 balls, hitting nine fours in process. 

Im: BCCI