In Short
- UPW ended MI’s five-match winning streak
- MI have hit highest and lowest totals at D.Y. Patil Stadium
- The winner of eliminator will meet Delhi Capitals in the final
By Priya NagiMumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals and UP Warriorz reached the knockouts following the conclusion of league stage of the first-ever Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023.
Mumbai Indians, who won their first five matches, were looking strong to directly reach the final, but their defeats against UP Warriorz and Delhi Capitals paved the way for DC to enter the summit clash and left MI to tackle UPW in the eliminator on March 24.
Harmanpreet Kaur-led MI is filled with experienced international all-rounders, who helped MI to become the first team to qualify for the playoffs. The Indian star will once again bank on her experienced campaigners as she did not make any significant change in the playing XI throughout the league stage.
MI’s five-match winning streak was snapped by a spirited UPW. Grace Harris and Sophie Ecclestone helped UPW to beat MI by five wickets in the final-over thriller. Alyssa Healy-led UPW, who are heavily relying on their middle-order, overcame a shaky first-half and pounced on their opportunities in the second-half of the tournament to finish third in the table.
Interestingly, Mumbai Indians have registered the highest (207/5 in the curtain-raiser against Gujarat Giants) and the lowest (127 against UP Warriorz) totals at the D.Y. Patil Stadium.
BATTLE FOR PURPLE CAP
The eliminator between Mumbai Indians and UP Warriorz will see Sophie Ecclestone, Saika Ishaque and Amelia Kerr wrestling for the purple cap. Currently, UPW left-arm spinner Ecclestone (14 wickets) leads the chart for the top wicket takers, followed by MI’s Kerr and Ishaque who are tied with 13 wickets each. MI’s Hayley Matthews is also in the contest with 12 wickets.
TEAMS (FROM)
Mumbai IndiansHayley Matthews, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Amelie Kerr, Pooja Vastrakar, Issy Wong, Amanjot Kaur, Humaira Kazi, Jintimani Kalita, Saika Ishaque, Chloe Tryon, Heather Graham, Dhara Gujjar, Sonam Yadav, Neelam Bisht, Priyanka Bala.
UP WarriorzAlyssa Healy (wk/c), Shweta Sehrawat, Simran Shaikh, Tahlia McGrath, Kiran Navgire, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Anjali Sarvani, Parshavi Chopra, Soppadhandi Yashasri, Shabnim Ismail, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Grace Harris, Devika Vaidya, Lauren Bell, Shivali Shinde, Laxmi Yadav.
Rodolfo Frami
Leo Dibbert
Kraig Prohaska