B Thomas, Kochi

 

Mumbai Indians eliminated UP Warriorz in the eliminator round of the TATA WPL 2023 for 72 runs.

 

MI scored 182/4 in their 20 overs and UPW were bowled out for a mere 110 in 17.4 overs.

UPW had won the toss and elected to bat first at the D Y Patil stadium where winning the toss and electing to bowl first was like winning the match so far. That belief was upturned by the MI by scoring 182 which was a good total on the pitch. Yet, the pitch belief would have prevailed if their highest scorer Nat Sciver-Brunt was not dropped by none other than the purple cap holder and savior of UPW on many occasions, Sophie Ecclestone, when she was at 6 and Nat went on to score 72 from 38 balls setting the winning tempo of the match. The last over brought 18 runs, the new batsman and the local Vastrakar did well with a six and four giving good support to storming Nat adding 15-20 runs more to the total than they could have hoped for.

When the turn came UPW to bat their main stay the international players went down quickly. Alyssa Healy was caught for 11, the awesome all rounder Tahlia Mcgrath was run out, Grace Harris, the never say die fighter with an easy smile, went down for 14 from 12 balls.

The local Kiran Navgire stood out scoring 43 from 28 balls giving a faint hope till she was caught at the deep cover by Sciver. It was her chance to stay on and score something big for the team and for herself in spite of getting a life early on. Similarly Simran Sheikh lost her opportunity to contribute with the bat when she was bowled by Isabelle Wong in the next ball and unfortunate Sophie Ecclestone thick edged Wong’s next delivery into her wicket giving Wong a hat-trick and making history, the first hat-trick of the WPL.

Soon the fight went out for UPW in 17.4 overs, MI Indians winning  conclusively with all-around performance with the bat and the ball; rightfully,  Nat-Sciver Brunt was chosen as the Player of the Match and Kiran Navgire taking the medal for  maximum with her  three sixes, one of them being  huge going well into the stands.

The final is on 26^th Sunday where Captain Lanning’s Delhi Capital’s will take on the resurgent Mumbai Indians in Mumbai infront of their home supporters.