MI VS UPW MATCH 15

Right then, that is it from this game and UP have emerged victorious here and strengthen their chances of a playoff spot. However, as it is a double-header, the second game is just around the corner where Bangalore will be taking on Gujarat. You can switch tabs to enjoy all the coverage of that game. Cheers!

Deepti Sharma is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for her all-round brilliance. She says that she was confident since Sophie Ecclestone was with her and the short boundary was straight. Shares that the ball was holding in the surface and it was difficult to bat in the first few overs. Credits the bowling unit and Grace Harris for bringing the side back into the game. Ends by saying that it is important to focus on the positives and play as a unit.

Alyssa Healy, the victorious skipper of UP, says that the game was close and credits the girls for getting the job done. Adds that it is important to find momentum towards the back end of a tournament. Feels that the toss was not that crucial. Ends by saying that they have a good group of spinners and they have a good chance in the tournament if the wickets start to turn more.

Time for the presentations...

Earlier in the game, after being asked to bat first, Mumbai were off to a cautious start and even lost Yastika Bhatia. Hayley Matthews took her time but once she got her eye in, she started to play her shots. However, Mumbai kept losing wickets at regular intervals and could not gain any momentum in the innings. Hayley Matthews and Harmanpreet Kaur chipped in with handy contributions and towards the end, it was the quickfire knock by Issy Wong that helped Mumbai cross the 125-run mark. In the second half, the Mumbai bowlers bowled their hearts out but it did not prove to be enough on the day which meant that Mumbai suffered their first loss of the campaign.

With not a big total to defend, Harmanpreet Kaur needed her bowlers to start well and they did just that. It was Hayley Matthews who set the tone early for them striking on her very first delivery of the game. They capitalised on that early scalp and kept the pressure on the opposition batters, reducing UP to 27-3. However, their bowlers could not work their magic against Tahlia McGrath and Grace Harris. They did manage to pull things back in the middle overs after dismissing Tahlia McGrath. Moreover, they had a glimmer of hope after getting rid of Grace Harris but the total of 127 was not enough to maintain their winning run.

Sophie Ecclestone holds her nerves and gets UP over the line with 3 balls to spare. By doing so, UP have handed Mumbai their first defeat of the competition. In their pursuit of 128, UP were rocked early losing Devika Vaidya in the second over. Despite the early loss, they were off to a decent start. However, they were pegged back losing Alyssa Healy and Kiran Navgire in quick succession. Tahlia McGrath and Grace Harris then got together and forged a solid recovery with a 44-run stand. After the departure of Tahlia McGrath, Grace Harris took matters into her own hands and ensured UP had the required rate under control. Grace Harris departed with UP requiring 23 runs away from victory but Deepti Sharma and Sophie Ecclestone did not crumble under pressure and took UP to their third victory of the season.

SIX! BANG! Sophie Ecclestone finishes things off in style! Issy Wong misses her yorker and bowls a low full toss, on middle, Sophie Ecclestone stays there and smokes it over the long on fence for a biggie. UP WIN BY 5 WICKETS!

Another dot!  Issy Wong bowls this back of a length and outside off, Sophie Ecclestone slashes, but misses. She looks at the umpire, but no signal of a wide.

Swing and a miss! Issy Wong serves this full and around off, shaping away, Sophie Ecclestone swings across the line, but fails to connect.

Issy Wong has been given the task of bowling the final over. UP need 5 runs from the last 6 balls.

Fires this one full and on off, Sophie Ecclestone jams it out towards long off for a run.

Quicker, short and on middle, Deepti Sharma goes down and tries to scoop it away, but misses as the ball goes off her pads towards short fine leg as the batters sets off for the run, the fielder hits the stumps at the batter's end and Mumbai players appeal for the run out as well as for the LBW. UltraEdge shows that there is a spike when the ball is close to the bat, and the replays also shows that Sophie Ecclestone made her ground in time.

FOUR! A pressure realeasing shot! Hayley Matthews lands this short and outside off with mid on up in the circle, Deepti Sharma stays back and smacks it towards the vacant long on fence for a boundary. UP need 7 runs in 8 balls now!

Floated, full and on off, Sophie Ecclestone drags her sweep from there towards deep mid-wicket for a run.

A low full toss, on off, Sophie Ecclestone drills it back towards the bowler where Hayley Matthews goes down and makes a good stop.

Tossed up, full and on off, Deepti Sharma goes inside out and slices it towards sweeper covers for a single.