By Kiran Navgire’s explosive batting guided UP Warriorz to a seven-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians, marking their first win in WPL 2024 after two initial defeats. Navgire’s aggressive 57 off just 31 balls set the tone for Warriorz’ successful chase of Mumbai’s 161, with Hayley Matthews’s impressive half-century for Mumbai going in vain.
Mumbai Indians, opting to bat first, got off to a steady start thanks to Yastika Bhatia’s aggressive strokeplay. Matthews then took charge, smashing boundaries against the spinners to reach her fifty. Despite a mix-up leading to the run-out of stand-in captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, Mumbai managed to post a competitive total, with contributions from the middle order.
In reply, UP Warriorz made a bold move by promoting Navgire to the opening slot, a decision that paid off handsomely. Navgire attacked the Mumbai bowlers from the start, hitting boundaries at will and even launching sixes off the spinners. Her quickfire fifty gave Warriorz a solid platform, but a mini-collapse raised concerns for the batting side.
However, Grace Harris and Deepti Sharma steadied the ship with a crucial partnership, guiding UP Warriorz to victory with 3.3 overs to spare. Harris played a key role with her aggressive strokeplay, while Deepti provided valuable support to ensure Warriorz’ successful chase. The win will boost Warriorz’ confidence as they look to build momentum in the tournament.
