Mumbai Indians Take a Step Closer to Playoffs as UP Warriors’ Losing Streak Begins
Amelia Kerr’s 5-wicket haul dismantles UP Warriors for 38 runs, Mumbai Indians vs. UP Warriors, WPL 2025, Lucknow, March 6, 2025.
Amelia Kerr delivered a stunning performance, taking five wickets for just 38 runs, leading Mumbai Indians (MI) to a crucial six-wicket victory over UP Warriors (UPW). With this win, MI is now on the brink of securing a playoff spot for the third consecutive year, while UPW is on the verge of elimination from WPL 2025.
Batting first, UP Warriors managed 150/9 in their 20 overs, thanks to Georgia Voll’s impressive half-century (55 off 33 balls), supported by Grace Harris (28) and Deepti Sharma (27). However, their batting collapsed from a strong 74/0 to 125/7, as MI’s spinners dominated, claiming eight out of nine wickets.
Chasing 151, MI comfortably reached the target at 153/4 with nine balls to spare. Hayley Matthews played a key role, scoring 68 off 46 balls, her second half-century against UPW this season. Nat Sciver-Brunt added a crucial 37 runs, ensuring MI’s victory. This win propelled MI to second place in the points table with a net run rate of 0.267 after six matches. Their next match is against Gujarat Giants, who are currently third with six points and a net run rate of 0.357.
MI’s Fast Bowlers and Smart Strategy
MI’s pace duo, Shabnim Ismail and Nat Sciver-Brunt, started aggressively. Ismail, who bowled the fastest delivery in women’s cricket history last year, initially tested Voll with a mix of bouncers and off-cutters. Sciver-Brunt’s cutters also troubled the batters early on.
Harris and Voll’s Explosive Start
In their seventh game of WPL 2025, UPW experimented with their third different opening pair—Brisbane Heat teammates Grace Harris and Georgia Voll. Harris faced an awkward first delivery that bounced unexpectedly, but Voll quickly adapted. She played aggressively, smashing three boundaries in just five balls.
Harris, too, found her rhythm and finished the powerplay with back-to-back boundaries off left-arm spinner Parunika Sisodia, who was brought in for Jintimani Kalita. UPW ended the powerplay at 50/0— their best start of the season. Voll reached her half-century in just 29 balls.
Voll continued her attack with three boundaries off Kerr and another off Matthews. Harris even managed a six, courtesy of a misjudged effort from Ismail at long-on. However, Matthews’ sharp bouncer caught Harris off guard, and she miscued it to short fine leg.
Kiran Navgire, promoted to No. 3, played a rash shot off Kerr and got out for a duck. Voll then fell to Sciver-Brunt while attempting a scoop shot, triggering a collapse. Deepti Sharma held one end, but UPW struggled to gain momentum. Vrinda Dinesh, Chinelle Henry, Shweta Sehrawat, and Uma Chetry all perished trying to attack the spinners. Deepti’s 25-ball 27, featuring just two boundaries, was the only resistance in the last ten overs as UPW managed only 61 runs.
Matthews and Sciver-Brunt Seal the Win
MI is the best chasing team in WPL, and a target of 151 was never going to be a big challenge. However, their top order was a concern—Yastika Bhatia had scored only 38 runs in her last six innings. MI promoted Kerr to open alongside Matthews, but the move didn’t pay off as Kerr got out after hitting two boundaries.
Matthews and Sciver-Brunt then took charge, with the dew helping their stroke play. Deepti was seen using a towel to wipe the ball inside the powerplay. Kranti Gaud and Henry generated some swing early on, making stroke play difficult. But a 16-run over from Gauhar Sultana put MI firmly in control.
A thrilling battle between West Indian teammates Henry and Matthews was another highlight of the match. Henry kept testing Matthews with sharp deliveries, but ultimately, it was MI’s day as they sealed a crucial victory.