Mumbai Indians’ unbeaten streak in WPL 2024 came crashing down as UP Warriors delivered a masterclass, winning by 22 runs thanks to a historic 141-run opening stand from Lauren Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield.
Batting first, UP Warriors capitalized on a batting-friendly pitch, racing to 192/4. Lanning’s blistering 76 (42 balls, 8 fours, 4 sixes) and Litchfield’s elegant 65 (38 balls, 7 fours, 2 sixes) formed the backbone, recovering from an early stumble to post a challenging score.
In reply, MI lost momentum quickly. Shafali Verma’s quickfire 32 was cut short by UP’s spin duo of Deepti Sharma and Rajeshwari Gayakwad. Harmanpreet Kaur fought hard with 54, but timely strikes from Grace Harris and Sophie Ecclestone restricted them to 170/8.
Deepti Sharma starred with 2/25, while Gayakwad’s 3/27 earned her player-of-the-match honors. This upset not only avenges UP’s earlier loss to MI but also boosts their net run rate significantly.
As WPL enters its crucial phase, UP Warriors’ depth and fearless cricket signal they’re genuine contenders. Mumbai, meanwhile, must regroup quickly to defend their title.