WPL 2023: UPW serves their first defeat of tournament to MI

New Delhi: Contributions from Tahilia McGrath and Grace Harris helped UP Warriorz to beat Mumbai Indians after their spinners restricted MI to 127. Deepti Sharma and Sophie Ecclestone took wickets and held their nerves with the bat in the nail-biting chase. With a low-scoring nail-biter and MI’s first defeat, WPL’s inaugural season has seen it all.

UP Warriorz’ spinners ruled the game as they restricted MI’s mighty batting line-up to a small total. The batting on the wicket was not easy and despite losing five wickets, UPW managed to chase the target with just three balls to spare as Ecclestone ended things in style with a maximum.

Take a bow @Sophecc19 🙌🏻🙌🏻

She finishes in style with a SIX & powers @UPWarriorz to a thrilling win! 👏👏

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/6bZ3042C4S #TATAWPL | #MIvUPW pic.twitter.com/pwR2D2AoLZ

— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) March 18, 2023

Hayley Matthews struck early as Harmanpreet Kaur took a sensational catch in the first slip to dismiss Devika Vaidya for 1(7). Captain Alyssa Healy was dismissed by Issy Wong in the powerplay and just after the powerplay, Nat Sciver-Brunt got KP Navgire as Yastika took a one-handed catch toward her left. Healy and Navgire could not do much harm after they were dropped early.

It was the 44-run partnership between McGrath and Harris which led the comeback. Both the batters got frequent boundaries as they kept the scoreboard ticking. Amelia Kerr caught and bowled McGrath on 38 off 25 to finish her knock featuring six fours and a maximum. She returned to dismiss Harris for 39 off 28 and the game was turned again.

It was Deepti and Ecclestone who rotated the strike to chase run-a-ball. Saika Ishque, MI’s golden girl, was expected to pick wickets, but her wickets column remained empty.

In the first inning, Matthews started with a blast while struggling Yastika Bhatia was dismissed by Anjali Sarvani. Ecclestone struck two big wickets of Sciver-Brunt and Matthews. Hayley Matthews went back following a soft dismissal for 35(30). Harmanpreet Kaur scored 25 off 22 but MI’s middle order collapsed as Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Deepti Sharma picked wickets.

Issy Wong, who left with no one to bat with, provided the finish with 32 off 19 before she got run out trying to run for a second one in the last over.

UPW dropped India’s U-19 star batter Shweta Sehrawat and played another U-19 star, Parshavi Chopra. Chopra could not make a mark for herself but has arrived on the big stage for sure.