Mumbai Indians triumphed over UP Warriorz by eight wickets in the Women’s Premier League match, thanks to impressive performances from Nat Sciver-Brunt and Hayley Matthews. Sciver-Brunt excelled with the ball, taking 3/18, helping restrict UPW to 142/9. She then scored 75 not out off 44 balls, forming a strong partnership with Matthews, who contributed 59 runs. The pair’s efforts guided MI to victory in just 17 overs. This win marked MI’s third consecutive match, placing them at the top of the standings, while UPW languished in fourth after their fourth loss in six games.
Nat Sciver-Brunt and Hayley Matthews delivered impressive fifties following an exceptional bowling performance as the Mumbai Indians defeated the UP Warriorz by eight wickets in their Women’s Premier League clash in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Sciver-Brunt maintained her outstanding form, concluding with bowling figures of 3/18, which helped MI limit UPW to 142/9 after choosing to bowl first. The England all-rounder then played a crucial innings, scoring 75 not out from 44 deliveries, including 13 fours, forming a remarkable 133-run partnership for the second wicket with Matthews (59 off 50 balls) to lead MI to victory in just 17 overs.
With their third consecutive win, MI ascended to the top of the standings with six points, while UPW lingered in fourth place following their fourth defeat in six outings against MI.
MI’s chase began slowly, highlighted by Matthews being dropped by Ecclestone early on. After seven dot balls, Yastika Bhatia fell to Deepti Sharma’s bowling, leaving MI at 6/1 in the 4th over.
Matthews quickly responded with a boundary and a six, after which Sciver-Brunt took control, belting three back-to-back fours off Saima Thakor in a 15-run over, as MI concluded the power play at 33/1.
Sciver-Brunt continued her aggressive batting, hitting consecutive fours off Chinelle Henry in a 13-run over. With Ecclestone next in the attack, the England batter pounded three more fours in the 13th over to bring up her fifty off just 29 balls.
In the 16th over, Matthews joined in on the action, hitting a six off Grace Harris followed by two more fours in a 22-run over, bringing her own fifty off 45 balls.
Though Matthews fell to Ecclestone in the 17th over, the damage was already done, and MI reached the target comfortably.
Earlier, UPW began strongly, with Harris, opening the innings, scoring six fours and two sixes in a blazing knock. She partnered with Vrinda Dinesh (33) to add 79 runs for the second wicket, but UPW faced an unexpected collapse, losing four wickets for a mere 12 runs and failed to recover.
Sciver-Brunt was the standout performer with the ball, taking three wickets, while spinner Sanskriti Gupta (2/11) played a significant role with two crucial strikes. Shabnim Ismail (2/33) also contributed with two wickets, and Amelia Kerr (1/24) and Hayley Matthews (1/38) claimed a wicket each.
UPW lost Kiran Navgire early on, but Harris’s aggressive batting, especially against Ismail and Matthews, kept up the pressure on MI.
Vrinda also found her rhythm, hitting Sciver-Brunt for two fours and driving Ismail to the boundaries.
However, the tide turned when Amelia Kerr dismissed Harris in the 10th over, setting off a collapse. UPW lost three more wickets, including captain Deepti Sharma, in quick succession.
After Grace’s exit, Gupta struck twice, taking down Vrinda and Tahila McGrath in consecutive deliveries, while Matthews accounted for Deepti in the 12th over, leaving UPW staggering at 93/5.
Sciver-Brunt then wrapped up the lower order, dismissing Shweta Sehrawat (19) and Henry (7) as UPW lost their momentum.
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