MI VS UPW T20

Right then, that is it from this exciting game. UP opened their account for the season while Mumbai suffered their first defeat. However, the action in the Women's T20 League continues on 29th February, Thursday, when Bangalore takes on Delhi in a tasty encounter. That will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT), but as you know, you can join us early for all the build-up to the game. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

Kiran Navgire is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for her blistering knock. She says that she has recovered well from the last game. Adds that it was a plan from the team that she could open and she was ready for it. She says that she just tried to play on the merit of the ball and it worked. Mentions that she plays according to her strengths and hopes she can do this all season.

Alyssa Healy, the victorious captain of UP says she is happy how her girls bounced back against a quality side like Mumbai. She also praises how Kiran Navgire played her innings from the start. Mentions that if Vrinda Dinesh did not get injured, she would have probably opened but things happen for a reason. Ends up saying that they would like to continue it further.

Natalie Sciver-Brunt the skipper of Mumbai says that yesterday evening she found out that she was going to lead in this game but she was ready for it. She continues that Kiran Navgire played exceptionally from their opposition, which took the game away from them. She also adds that the game didn't go according to their plan. She praises Issy Wong for taking a couple of wickets and keeping them in the game. Ends up saying that they will be ready to make a comeback against Bangalore.

Presentation Time...

Deepti Sharma is up for a chat. She says that she is feeling good to finish on the winning side. Continues that they didn't feel like they were chasing a big target because of the brilliance of Kiran Navgire and Alyssa Healy. Adds that they are happy with their performance. Ends up saying that they could have done better in the death overs and for that, the opposition boosted their scoreline.

Earlier in the game, Mumbai posted a fighting total on the board courtesy of a fine fifty from Hayley Matthews and some good contributions from Amelia Kerr, Pooja Vastrakar and Issy Wong towards the end. UP bowled well and all of their bowlers chipped in with one wicket each. While chasing, it was the Kiran Navgire show that made this chase look like a cakewalk. They did stumble in the middle, but this time their middle order batters made sure they get all the points.

Mumbai, on the other hand, will be disappointed with their bowling effort. They couldn't get the early breakthroughs or they could stop the flow of the runs. They just had no answers to the onslaught of Kiran Navgire. However, Amelia Kerr did manage to get her out and Wong followed it up with getting Alyssa Healy and Tahlia McGrath in the same over but they couldn't build on that. Just like UP, they also dropped a few chances in the middle and that has ultimately cost them the game.

UP got off to an absolute flier with Kiran Navgire taking on the bowlers right from the offing. The move to send her open the innings worked massively for UP. Alyssa Healy played second fiddle to her and enjoyed the show from the other end. It was a treat to watch Navgire bat in this game as she smashed the ball all around the park. UP registered the highest Powerplay score of the season and Navgire also bullied her way through to a half-century. However, she fell after smacking 54 off just 31 balls and the openers added 94 for the first wicket which broke the back of the chase. Things got a bit scary for them when they went from 94-0 to 98-3, but Deepti Sharma and Grace Harris showed great character and did not let their opponents get back in the game. Both of them remained unbeaten on 27 and 38 respectively and got them over the line with 21 balls to spare as well.

A statement victory for UP! They have finally managed to get their first points of the season and they have done that by completely outplaying the defending champions. In the batter of an Aussie and English skipper, it is the Aussie who comes out on top, and Alyssa Healy will be pleased with her team's performance. Mumbai suffers their first loss of the season and they just didn't turn for this one.

FOUR! Edged but will work for Deepti Sharma as well as UP! Another short delivery, on stump. Deepti Sharma makes a bit of room and tries to pull it but gets the connection on the top edge. The ball flies over the short third man region and the ball rolls towards the fence. That's it, UP WIN BY 7 WICKETS!

NO BALL! Fuller delivery on off. Grace Harris flicks it towards deep mid-wicket to get a single. But Pooja Vastrakar overstepped once again giving away a bonus run. Free Hit upcoming!

FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries! Pooja Vastrakar bowls this wide outside off, short of a length. Grace Harris pulls it across the line from the middle of her willow towards the deep mid-wicket fence to get four more runs added into her account.

FOUR! Checky from Grace Harris! This one is fuller on middle and leg. Grace Harris opens her stance and scoops it up and over the fine leg region to get another boundary.

Strategic-Break! Nothing really left in this game as it will need a miracle for Mumbai to get back in this one. UP needs just 13 runs to win now and they will hope that they can finish it off as quickly as possible to help with the NRR as well.

Beaten! Short and outside off. Deepti Sharma attempts a cut but misses the connection.

Short and outside off. Deepti Sharma tries for a cut but gets nicked on the inner edge of the bat. The ball rolls to the leg side.