WPL 2025 MI vs UPW: Mumbai Indians (MI) delivered an all-round effort to beat UP Warriorz (UPW) by six wickets, bringing themselves a step closer to securing a position in the playoffs for a third straight year in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025.
The victory also brought UPW to the doorstep of elimination as they could manage only 150/9 in their 20 overs, which MI comfortably chased down with six wickets and nine balls to spare.
A key highlight was Amelia Kerr’s sensational five-wicket haul, which played a major role in restricting UPW’s total and setting the stage for MI’s successful chase whereas Hayley Matthews portrayed an all-round performance with 2 wickets and 68 runs on her end rewarding her with Player Of the match for the same.
UP Warriorz’ Solid Start But Batting Collapse
UPW got off to a promising start, thanks to a brilliant half-century from Georgia Voll in only her second WPL match. Following a debut duck, Voll appeared to be well in charge, scoring a nice 55 of 33 deliveries.
Her aggression, such as 3 fours in the opening five balls of the match, set the base for UPW as they totted up 74/0. Supported by Grace Harris, who made a fast-scoring 28, the first-wicket association thrived. But soon momentum was reversed in MI’s way.
The introduction of MI’s spinners led to a dramatic collapse, with UPW losing 7 wickets for just 51 runs. Kerr, in particular, was lethal with the ball, taking 5 wickets and breaking the back of UPW’s batting lineup. Deepti Sharma, the UPW captain, played a lone hand with 27 runs, but the rest of the batting order crumbled. UPW was able to only muster 61 runs from their last 10 overs, and their hopes for a fighting total were lost.
MI’s Clinical Bat Response
In pursuit of a target of 151 runs, Mumbai Indians didn’t have much fight, courtesy of a masterful knock by Hayley Matthews.
Matthews, after her good outing in the last game, slammed her second half-century of the season, with 68 runs off 46 balls. She shared a crucial 92-run stand with Nat Sciver-Brunt (37 off 29), which pretty much sealed the victory for MI. Matthews also carried on her good work against UPW, coming back from last week’s 59 in Bengaluru with another smooth knock.
The pursuit was not without its hiccups, with MI’s early elbow, missing Amelia Kerr. Kerr was given a promotion to the top with Matthews and could not make her mark; leaving very early, she scored just a few boundaries and was dismissed. However, Matthews and Sciver-Brunt took charge and kept the required run rate in check.
Even though there was a short flurry of wickets near the end, Yastika Bhatia came to replace No. 6 and helped seal the match by hitting a couple of boundaries. MI managed to score 151/4 in just 18.3 overs, winning with ease, with another six wickets remaining, and nine balls in hand.
MI Bowling Plan Pays Off
MI’s bowlers, and especially the spinners, put into practice a well-disciplined plan to dismantle the UPW batting order.
Despite the early threat posed by UPW’s openers, Shabnim Ismail and Nat Sciver-Brunt began the proceedings with pace, employing cutters and off-cutters to eliminate any early threat posed by Voll and Harris. The pair of Ismail and Sciver-Brunt limited UPW from making the most of their good beginning, and the spinners dominated as the game went on. The MI bowlers were able to dry up the runs and put pressure, which ultimately proved to be UPW’s undoing.
UP Warriorz’ Struggles Continue
For UPW, this defeat was another setback, as they were unable to sustain their momentum during the game.
Their choice to alter the opening combination by introducing Harri and Voll was promising at first, but their failure to build on the good start indicated the team’s continued problems. The collapse from 74/0 to 125/7 was decisive, and the failure of the middle order to contribute left UPW with too much to accomplish in the last overs.
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With this loss, UPW is in a vulnerable situation, having lost two of their previous two games in Lucknow. The team now has a steep hill to climb to reach the playoffs, with only a few matches remaining to be played.
The Road Ahead for Mumbai Indians
The win pushed MI to second position on the points table with 8 points from 6 games, having a net run rate (NRR) of +0.267.
Their next test is against Gujarat Giants, who are placed third with 6 points from 6 games and an NRR of +0.357.
MI’s strong showing in the second half of the season positions them as a team to beat as they look to secure a playoff spot and keep their hopes of a third consecutive appearance alive.
The Key Performances in MI vs UPW
– Amelia Kerr was the standout performer with the ball, taking 5 wickets for 38 runs and choking UPW’s progress.
– Hayley Matthews maintained her fine batting form, scoring 68 runs off 46 deliveries and contributing to the successful run chase.
– Nat Sciver-Brunt chipped in with good support for Matthews in the middle overs, scoring 37 runs and keeping the chase going.
Mumbai Indians’ decisive win over UP Warriors was an ideal mix of tight bowling and controlled batting.
With the victory, MI took one step closer to a playoff ticket, and UPW’s chances of going to the next round of the WPL 2025 now depend on a thread.
The loss exposed the inconsistency of UPW, especially with the bat, and they have to improve drastically if they are to continue the race for the playoffs. MI, meanwhile, keep themselves in the frame and will hope to carry on this form into their next games.
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