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Harleen Deol put on a show with the bat to guide the UP Warriorz to their first victory of Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026. Facing the defending champions Mumbai Indians Harleen Deol anchored a precise chase that saw the Warriorz chase down 162 with seven wickets to spare. This win was a vital breakthrough for UPW after three consecutive losses, while handing Mumbai their second defeat in four games.
Harleen Deol wins it for UP Warriorz
Earlier in the evening, Nat Sciver-Brunt provided the fireworks for Mumbai Indians, smashing a forceful 65 off just 43 balls. Her aggressive knock was essential in salvaging a competitive total of 161 for five, especially after the Mumbai top order struggled through a lackluster start to their innings. Despite her efforts, the total proved insufficient against a determined UPW batting lineup.
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Deol’s unbeaten 64 off 39 balls was a masterclass in intent and shot selection. Batting with a point to prove, she dominated the off-side with elegant square play and aggressive boundary-hitting, including a statement over where she took three fours off the legendary Shabnim Ismail. Her ability to score effortlessly kept the run rate under control and prevented the Mumbai bowlers from building sustained pressure.
The turning point came in the 15th over when Deol reached her half-century with a confident sweep off spinner Sanskriti Gupta. She followed the milestone with two additional boundaries in the same over, effectively breaking the back of the chase. By the time the over ended, the equation had been whittled down to a comfortable 29 runs off 24 balls, allowing the Warriorz to cruise to a historic three-wicket win.
To ensure the victory was secured without any late-inning drama, Harleen Deol found an aggressive partner in Chloe Tryon. Tryon’s explosive unbeaten 27 off just 11 balls provided the perfect finishing touch, allowing Deol to remain at the crease until the final run was scored. Despite the eventual success, the UP Warriorz top order continued to show signs of struggle; Meg Lanning and Kiran Navgire were unable to find their usual fluency, leaving the heavy lifting to the middle order.
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Nat Sciver-Brunt's fifty in vain
Earlier in the match, MI faced their own hurdles during a sluggish start on a pitch that heavily favored spin. The opening duo of Amanjot Kaur and G Kamalimi found it difficult to rotate strike, laboring to just 54 runs by the halfway mark. When both openers fell in quick succession, Nat Sciver-Brunt and captain Harmanpreet Kaur were forced to rebuild, though the latter's stay was cut short when she was dismissed attempting a sweep off Asha Shobhana.
The momentum of the game shifted dramatically in the final 10 overs, fueled by the sheer power of Sciver-Brunt. After a quiet first half, she unleashed a barrage of boundaries, scoring 107 runs for Mumbai in the back end of the innings. A pivotal 17-run over against Shobhana, highlighted by Sciver-Brunt’s two fours and a towering straight six, gave the innings the spark it desperately needed.
Supported by Nicola Carey, Sciver-Brunt continued her masterclass in hitting, ensuring that Mumbai Indians reached a competitive total. Her ability to find the ropes at will transformed what looked like a subpar score into a challenging 161, though it was ultimately overshadowed by Deol’s clinical response for the Warriorz.
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