UP Warriorz' all-rounder Deepti Sharma valiant half-century went in vain as her team suffered a 42-run defeat to the defending champions Mumbai Indians in the 14th match of the WPL 2024 at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Thursday, March 7.
With a target of 161, UP Warriorz were restricted to 118/9 in 20 overs. Deepti Sharma was the lone warrior as she played a valiant knock of 53 off 36 balls, while other batters failed to step up when the team needed them the most. Deepti was the only for UP Warriorz to have scored 20 runs as the second best was by Shweta Sehrawat, who scored 17.
For Mumbai Indians, spinner Saika Ishaque led the bowling attack with three wickets while Nat Sciver-Brunt picked two wickets. Shabnim Ismail, Hayley Mathews, Pooja Vastrakar and S Sajana also contributed to MI's bowling by taking a wicket each.
UP Warriorz suffered two successive defeat and are currently 4th in the points table while defending champions Mumbai Indians retained 2nd spot after win against UPW.
After skipper Harmanpreet Kaur decided to bat first against UP Warriorz after winning the toss, Mumbai Indians lost openers in Hayley Mathews (4) and Yastika Bhatia (9) and the defending champions were 17/2. Both wickets were taken by Chamari Athapaththu, giving two breakthroughs for the UP.
Nat-Sciver Brunt and Harmanpreet Kaur's crucial partnership revives MI batting
Following two early wickets for Mumbai Indians, Nat-Sciver Brunt alongside skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's revived the team's batting. The pair frustrated UP Warriorz's bowlers with their power-hitting abilites and took the team past 50-run mark in the ninth over.
Brunt and Kaur formed a crucial 59-run partnership until the former was bowled out by Rajeshwari Gayakwad for 45 at 76/1. After Nat-Sciver Brunt's dismissal, Harmanpreet Kaur was joined by Amelia Kerr in the middle to carry on Mumbai Indians' batting.
The middle-order continued to build good partnership before skipper Harmanpreet was bowled out for 33 by Saima Thakor at 104/4. Thereafter, Amonjot Kaur had a short stay at the crease as she was dismissed for 7 at 117/5.
Ameila Kerr found an abled partnership in S Sajana as the pair took the team past the 150-run mark. Mumbai Indians' innings came to an end after Kerr was dismissed for 38 by Deepti Sharma at 160/6 on the final ball of the 20th over.
For UP Warriorz, Chamari Athapaththu picked two wickets while Deepti Sharma, Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Saima Thakor scalped a wicket each.
