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In the absence of skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, Mumbai Indians fielders put on a poor show as they suffered their first defeat in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2024. Kiran Navgire's 31-ball 57 followed by a clinical display from Grace Harris and Deepti Sharma helped UP Warriorz register a convincing seven-wicket victory with 21 balls to spare to boost their net run rate (NRR). UP Warriorz opened their account in the season after two defeats.
Slow start from MI
As Harmanpreet and Shabnim Ismail missed out due to a niggle, stand-in skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt won the toss and opted to bat first. Hayley Matthews and Yastika Bhatia struggled to get going as MI had just eight runs on the board after three overs. In the fourth over, Matthews hit the first boundary of the innings. Yastika broke free in the next over hitting Anjali Sarvani for three fours and a six. After powerplay overs, MI had 36 runs on the board. In the eighth over, Harris broke the partnership with Yastika's wicket.
Matthews hits fifty
The wicketkeeper-batter scored 26 runs from 22 balls. Matthews took on Deepti and hit her for three fours in the 10th over. In the 12th over, Matthews got a reprieve as Deepti dropped a sitter. In the 13th over, Sciver-Brunt was run out after a terrible mix-up between the two batters. She scored 19 runs from 14 balls. The Caribbean all-rounder reached her half-century from 44 balls. In the 15th over, she was dismissed by Rajeshwari Gayakwad. The opener's 47-ball 55 was laced with nine fours and a six.
MI finish well
Amelia Kerr pushed the scoring rate in the slog overs. She contributed with a 16-ball 23 before losing her wicket to Deepti. Issy Wong walked out to bat and hit a six first ball. In the penultimate over, UP Warriorz fielders leaked runs. Vastrakar became Ecclestone's only victim of the evening. Vastrakar scored 18 runs from 12 balls. In the final over, Wong and S Sajana hit one four each. On the penultimate ball, Sajana got bowled. Wong's unbeaten six-ball 15 helped MI post 161/6.
Navgire goes berserk
In the run chase, poor fielding helped UP Warriorz get off to a flyer. Heal hit Sciver-Brunt for two boundaries in the first over. In the third over, Navgire smashed Wong for four fours. Once again, poor fielding let MI down. Navgire hit the first six of the innings in the sixth over. UP Warriorz were 61 for no loss after powerplay overs. She got to her half-century with a couple of sixes off Matthews. In the 10th over, Amelia broke the partnership. Navgire got out stumped. Her 31-ball 57 featured six fours and four sixes.
Wong’s consolation wickets
In the next over, Wong struck twice to give her team some home. Tahlia McGrath got out lbw and Healy departed after a 29-ball 33. Harris and Deepti did not let MI make a comeback. They kept on attacking as MI bowlers crumbled under pressure. In the 17th over, Deepti finished the run chase with three boundaries. She scored 27 runs from 20 balls. On the other end, Harris remained unbeaten for 38 off 17 balls.
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