"The middle-order isn't firing," admitted UP Warriorz captain Deepti Sharma after her team suffered a third consecutive defeat in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025, losing to Mumba♍i Indians by six wickets in Match 16 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
Despite a strong start with Grace Harris (28) and Georgia Voll (55 off 33 balls) forging a 74-run opening stand, UP Warriorz f꧃altered, losing wickets at regular intervals to end at 150/9 in 20 overs. Mumbai’s disciplined bowling, led by Amelia Kerr, proved decisive.
Kerr, who dismantled the Warriorz's middle order with a stunning 5-3🅷8, triggered the collapse by dismissing Kiran Navgire, Deepti Sharma, Dinesh Virnda, Chinelle Henry, and Sophie Ecclestone. Hayley Matthews chipped in with 2-25, while Nat Sciver-Brunt and Parunika Sisodia picked up a wicket each🅷.
Mumbai’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur cre♈dite🌺d the team’s patience for the turnaround.
They batted really well. We were not able to use the conditions as we had th🔯ought. But we knew we just needed one wicket. We were waiting for that opportunity, and it came at the right time.
Harmanpreet said
Matthews carried her fine form into Mumbai’s chase, smashing a 46-ball 68 with eight boundaries and two sixes. Sciver-Brun🐬t contributed 37, and their 92-run stand set the platform for a comfortable win.
We just wanted to stay calm [after their 74-run opening partnership], kn💖owing we can catch back. It was pretty good to🌠 bowl on as an off-spinner. Fortunately, when I went to bat, a bit of dew came on.
Matth♔ews, named Player of the Match, reflected on her per🍃formance, saying
Deepti aꦡcknowledged the need for imꦜprovement while praising Voll’s innings.
There are positives, like Voll batting wellꦆ. Whenever you play in the middle ord🔯er, there are moments when you need to shift the momentum of the game. But we want to put in all our efforts in our last game.
Deept said
UP Warriorz, currently at the bottom of the table with four points from s🍒even matches, will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their final league match. Meanwhile, second-placed Mumbai Indians (eight points from six matches) will take on Gujarat Giants on March 10 before a crucial clash against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
