Mumbai Indians (MI) rode on Nat Sciver-Brunt's robust batting and Issy Wong's historic hat-trick to storm into the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2023 final after trouncing UP Warriors by 72 runs in the action-packed Eliminator clash at the DY Patil Stadium on Friday (March 24). Harmanpreet Kaur's brigade will now face Delhi Capitals (DC) in the title clash which will be played on super Sunday (March 26).
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Sciver-Brunt's whirlwind 38-ball unbeaten 72 helped MI post a challenging total of 182/4 on the board. In reply, UP Warriorz could only score 110, thanks to Wong's fantastic 4/15 as she became the first bowler to snare a hat-trick in WPL. Wong came with her third over when Warriorz's scoreboard read 84/4 but in no time the star English pacer sent Kiran Navgire, Simran Shaikh and Sophie Ecclestone to pavilion in quick succession to leave Alyssa Healy's side teetering at 84/7. The tailenders couldn't stand long and the entire side was reduced to 110 to pave MI's path to WPL final. Navgire with 43 off 27 remained the top scorer for Warriorz but to only see her side going down to the Paltans army. Besides Wong, Saika Ishaque (2/24), Sciver Brunt (1/21), Hayley Mathews (1/21) and Jintimani Kalita (1/2) took contributed with their exceptional spells to steer MI home. Β
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Warriorz were off to a jittery start as they lost their opener Shweta Sehrawat in the very second over after scoring just 1 off 8 balls. Before Warriorz thought of making a comeback, the third over came with another jolt in the form of skipper Healy on just 11. The saga of wickets didn't end their as Tahlia McGrath was the next to follow suit as she returned to pavilion after scoring just 7 off 6 to leave her side reeling at 21/3. Kiran Navgire and Grace Harris tried to steady Warriorz's boat with a 35-run stand. But Sciver-Brunt nipped the developing partnership in the bud and dismissed Harris for 14 and Warriorz were left sulking. But Warriorz didn't see the torment which was coming their way. Wong's rioting hat-trick completely devastated Warriorz when the 13th over first saw Warriorz's only hope Navgire taking the longest walk towards pavilion after scoring 43. Wong then munched on Shaikh (0) and Ecclestone's (0) wickets to complete her hat-trick. Later, Warriorz's tail didn't last long and finally suffered a drubbing at the hands of MI.
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Earlier, Earlier in the first innings, Sciver-Brunt's blistering unbeaten 72 powered Mumbai Indians to a daunting total.
Sciver-Brunt was at her brutal best with the bat, clobbering nine fours and two sixes to make an unbeaten 72 and certainly made the most of an early lifeline when she was on six, with Sophie Ecclestone (2/39) dropping a regulation catch off Rajeshwari Gayakwad at mid-off.
UP Warriorz controlled the first half of the knockout clash largely through their spin bowlers, not allowing Mumbai batters to get away or notch up any big individual totals, barring Sciver-Brunt, who seemed unstoppable.
The right-handed Sciver-Brunt provided much-needed impetus late for Mumbai Indians in the company of Kerr (29 off 19 balls, 5x4s), adding 60 runs for the fourth wicket.
Having added 78 runs from overs 5-15, Mumbai Indians smashed 66 runs in the last five overs to put up a stiff total. The likes of Yastika Bhatia (21), Matthews (26) and Kaur (14) got starts but UP Warriorz kept control for the large part of the game after an erratic start.Β
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