Mumbai Indians Make It Four In A Row As Harmanpreet, Ishaque Overwhelm UP
Saika Ishaque took 3 wickets (Source: Twitter)
Riding on a disciplined bowling effort, followed by an easy chase with the bat Mumbai Indians Women beat UP Warriorz by eight wickets in Match 10 of the ongoing Women's Premier League (WPL 2023). Mumbai Indians completed the chase with 15 balls to spare, registering fourth win in a row and sustaining their unbeaten run in the tournament.
Healy, McGrath hits half centuries before MI pulls things back
After electing to bat first, UP Warriorz had a decent start with the bat, adding 48 runs for the loss of one wicket at the end of the powerplay. Despite losing Devika Vaidya early, Alyssa Healy alongside Kiran Navgire negotiated the new ball pretty well.
Post powerplay, Navgire tried to up the scoring rate, hitting a boundary and a six off Amelia Kerr, but was soon dismissed for 17 off 14. Inform Tahlia McGrath joined Healy in the middle and started to score briskly, taking on the likes of Hayley Matthews and Kerr. Healy played a second fiddle to McGrath and went on to complete her second consecutive half century.
McGrath too completed her half century and was eyeing for a big finish. However, Mumbai Indians bounced back well as Saika Ishaque removed both Healy and McGrath in the 17th over. UP could only manage 21 off the last four overs, posting a below-par 159 for six in 20 overs.
Harmanpreet leads MI in a facile chase
Harmanpreet Kaur (Source: Twitter)
Chasing 160, Mumbai Indians Women had a good start, making 51 for none in the first six overs. Hayley Matthews usually lights up the power play with the bat but it was Yastika Bhatia this time, who not only gave a flying start to MI’s chase but overshadowed Matthews completely at the other end.
The duo added 58 for the first wicket, before MI lost two quick wickets in the middle as UP managed to cease the scoring rate to some extent. Nat Sciver and Harmanpreet Kaur were in the middle, ensuring UP does not get from that period of run-drought. The duo started to open their hands after the halfway mark, hitting boundaries at regular intervals.
The scoring rate came down and the MI skipper took on McGrath’s in the 16th over, scoring 19 off her, wrapping up the contest eventually. Kaur completed her half century, while Sciver got MI across the line with a boundary and a six at the end with more than two overs to spare.
Brief Scores:
UP Warriorz Women: 159/6 (20 Overs)
Alyssa Healy 58 (46), Tahlia McGrath 50 (37);
Saika Ishaque 3/33 (4), Amelia Kerr 2/33 (4)
Mumbai Indians Women: 164/2 ( 17.3 Overs)
Harmanpreet Kaur 53* (33), Nat Sciver 45* (31);
Sophie Ecclestone 1/30 (4), Rajeshwari Gayakwad 1/33 (4)
Mumbai Indians Women won by eight wickets
 "Kaushik Kashyap")