Mumbai Indians showcased their dominance once again by defeating UP Warriorz by eight wickets at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on February 26, 2025, marking their third consecutive victory in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). This win propelled Mumbai to the top of the standings, with six points from four matches, as the team continues to build momentum.
Nat Sciver-Brunt was the star of the show, combining her impressive bowling skills with stellar batting. She claimed three wickets for just 18 runs, playing a pivotal role in restricting UP Warriorz to 142 runs. Sciver-Brunt, enduring brilliant form, followed this up with 75 runs off just 44 balls, delivering another spectacular performance to lead her team home.
On the other hand, UP Warriorz struggled after what started as a promising innings. Their captain Deepti Sharma, aiming for redemption after previous matches, saw her team reach 62 runs during the powerplay. Grace Harris opened with aggression, scoring 45 runs off 26 balls, and together with Vrinda Dinesh (33 runs), they formed the backbone of the early innings.
UPW seemed well poised until the match turned dramatically. A sudden downturn saw four wickets tumble for just 12 runs, as Sciver-Brunt set the tone with her destructive bowling. The momentum shifted sharply as Sanskriti Gupta and Amelia Kerr tightened their grip, ensuring UPW could not recover and finishing their innings at 142/9.
During the innings break, UPW’s performance had fans hopeful, but MI’s chase turned out to be clinical. They got off to a shaky start, losing Yastika Bhatia for a duck early on, but Sciver-Brunt and Hayley Matthews quickly found their stride. After Bhatia was dismissed, Matthews benefited from some good fortune, being dropped early by Sophie Ecclestone, which proved costly for the Warriorz.
Sciver-Brunt's explosive batting quickly turned the tide. She struck 13 boundaries, showcasing her range by dominating bowlers with powerful shots and clever placements. Matthews, initially cautious, eventually settled and contributed 59 runs off 50 balls, forming a monumental 133-run partnership for the second wicket with Sciver-Brunt.
While Mumbai’s innings had started quietly, the partnership allowed them to accelerate, and they reached their target with ease, completing the chase within 17 overs. The match ended with Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur inadvertently wrapping up the innings with four runs required, taking the total to 143/2.
Post-match, Harmanpreet Kaur expressed contentment with the result and praised the team's performance, saying, "Nat did everything right today. Happy with the way our medium pacers bowled." mi's bowling attack, spearheaded by Sciver-Brunt, resulted in UPW’s faltering, reflecting on how their collapse bore the hallmark of pressure applied early on.
This match not only boosted MI's confidence but also reinforced their capabilities and placed them firmly at the top of the table, supported by high-performance players like Sciver-Brunt, who is also shaping up to be a solid contender for Player of the Series this season. UP Warriorz, conversely, now sit fourth after four losses, needing to reassess and regroup if they want to remain competitive.
It was undeniably another exciting chapter for Mumbai Indians as they look to continue this form and perhaps extend their lead as WPL favorites. With contributions from each player and especially their high-scoring partnership, the team sets itself up well for upcoming matches, building both momentum and morale as the league progresses.