WPL 2025: Amelia Kerr's fifer, Hayley Matthews' fifty guide Mumbai Indians to 6-wicket win over UP Warriorz to go 2nd in standings

Mumbai Indians (MI) thrashed UP Warriorz by six wickets in their Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 clash at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on March 6, fueled by outstanding performances from Hayley Matthews and Amelia Kerr.

Mumbai Indians gun down UP Warriorz by 6 wickets

Matthews' impressive half-century and Kerr's remarkable five-wicket haul, her first in the Women's Premier League, proved pivotal in the win. Chasing a target of 151 runs, Mumbai Indians reached the required total in 18.3 overs, significantly impacting UP Warriorz's aspirations of qualifying for the Eliminator stage. Georgia Voll's commendable 55 runs, her inaugural WPL fifty, was ultimately in vain for the home team.

This victory propelled Mumbai Indians to second place in the WPL standings, accumulating eight points from six matches. Conversely, UP Warriorz remain at the bottom of the table with only four points, facing an uphill battle to advance in the tournament.

Hayley Matthews' impactful innings of 68 runs from 46 balls, punctuated by eight fours and two sixes, brought Mumbai Indians to the brink of victory. Her dismissal, a mistimed pull caught at midwicket, came only after she had effectively steered her team towards the target. Throughout her innings, Matthews displayed exceptional form, consistently finding gaps in the outfield and maintaining control of the required run rate.

Her performance included several memorable shots, notably a powerful forehand slap over mid-on against a delivery from Chinelle Henry, resulting in a six. She reached her half-century in 35 balls with a well-executed cut against Deepti Sharma through point. Nat Sciver-Brunt provided valuable support, contributing 37 runs from 23 balls, and together, she and Matthews forged a crucial 92-run partnership for the second wicket.

This dominant partnership eclipsed the impressive 74-run opening stand between Georgia Voll and Grace Harris for UP Warriorz. Voll was particularly aggressive during this partnership, showcasing her power with authoritative cuts and pulls.

ALSO READ: Superstar player announces sudden ODI retirement after Champions Trophy 2025 exit, says 'last few weeks have been very challenging...'

ALSO READ: Anil Kumble rejects Gautam Gambhir-Rohit Sharma's tactics for KL Rahul in Champions Trophy, says 'If he does well, it's expected; if he doesn't...'

After the departure of the opening batters, Amelia Kerr's bowling performance dramatically shifted the momentum of the match, significantly hindering UP Warriorz's progress. Despite a challenging start where her initial three deliveries were hit for boundaries, Kerr maintained her composure and continued to entice batters with flighted deliveries, encouraging them to attempt big shots.

Her persistence paid off in the 15th over, when she claimed two crucial wickets in quick succession. Vrinda Dinesh was dismissed at long-on, followed shortly by Chinelle Henry at long-off. Kerr further demonstrated her skill by deceiving Deepti Sharma with a well-disguised delivery, leading to the left-handed batter being stumped. These key wickets played a pivotal role in restricting UP Warriorz's scoring and ultimately contributing to Mumbai Indians' win.

MI will next face Gujarat Giants on March 10 while UP Warriorz will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their upcoming match on March 8.