WPL 2025: Amelia Kerr Achieves First Five-Wicket Haul, Limiting UP Warriorz to 150/9
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Synopsis
In Match 16 of WPL 2025, Amelia Kerr's outstanding five-wicket haul (5-38) and Hayley Matthews' disciplined bowling (2-25) helped Mumbai Indians restrict UP Warriorz to 150/9 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium. UPW's strong start was neutralized by Mumbai's bowlers, setting a target of 151 runs.
Key Takeaways
- Amelia Kerr achieved her first five-wicket haul for Mumbai Indians.
- Hayley Matthews delivered an impressive spell with 2-25.
- UP Warriorz started with a solid opening partnership of 74 runs.
- Georgia Voll scored 55 runs but could not anchor the innings.
- Mumbai's bowlers executed a brilliant middle-over strategy.
Lucknow, March 6 (NationPress) Amelia Kerr’s outstanding five-wicket haul (5-38) – her inaugural for Mumbai Indians – combined with Hayley Matthews’ disciplined bowling performance (2-25) enabled Mumbai Indians to limit UP Warriorz to 150/9 in Match 16 of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Despite a robust start from the UPW openers, who contributed 74 runs, the highest opening partnership for Warriorz this season, the bowlers from Mumbai tightened their hold in the middle overs, leading to a dramatic collapse. Kerr’s variations were particularly effective, while Matthews provided critical breakthroughs to keep the home team under control. With 151 runs required to win, the Mumbai Indians will be looking for a solid batting performance.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Warriorz started strong with openers Grace Harris and Georgia Voll delivering a promising performance.
In the initial over against Shabnim Ismail, Harris faced an early scare with a thick outside edge falling into no-man’s land. Voll quickly capitalised, pulling a short delivery for a four towards deep mid-wicket.
Nat Sciver-Brunt nearly dismissed Harris in her first over with a deceptive off-cutter that narrowly missed the stumps. Yet, Harris capitalised on the opportunity, flicking a boundary past the inner circle. Voll, appearing comfortable at the crease, executed some elegant strokes, including well-placed cuts for boundaries off both Ismail and Sciver-Brunt. Amanjot Kaur was introduced into the attack but was costly as both Harris and Voll continued to find the boundary, lifting UP Warriorz to 50/0 by the end of the power-play.
Spin was deployed immediately following the power-play, with Parunika Sisodia taking control. Harris persisted with her aggressive approach, punishing Ismail for a misfield and pulling strongly for another boundary. This momentum carried over into Amelia Kerr’s first over, where Voll hit three consecutive boundaries, including a fortunate inside edge.
Hayley Matthews then came into the attack, and the West Indian all-rounder struck almost instantly. Harris, aiming to accelerate, lofted one down the ground, but Ismail misjudged the catch at long-on, allowing the ball to sail over for a six. However, Harris's aggression led to her downfall on the very next delivery as she mistimed a pull shot to short fine leg, departing for 28 runs off 25 balls. Ismail returned for her second spell, and Voll approached her maiden WPL half-century with a crisp boundary. Kiran Navgire entered the crease but failed to make an impact, perishing for a duck as she chipped one to short third-man off Kerr’s bowling.
Voll, however, continued her excellent form, achieving her maiden WPL fifty in style by stepping out to dispatch a full toss from Kerr for a boundary. Her innings concluded when Sciver-Brunt delivered a clever slower ball that rattled the stumps as Voll attempted a scoop shot, leaving her with an impressive 55 runs off 33 balls.
Deepti Sharma and Vrinda Dinesh then took charge, with Vrinda flicking a ball fine for a boundary. The spinners from Mumbai Indians tightened their grip as Sanskriti Gupta and Matthews bowled economical overs. Parunika returned for her second over, and Deepti managed to break the shackles with a well-timed sweep to the boundary.
Amelia Kerr, already having made an impact, struck again in her third over as Vrinda Dinesh (10) attempted to clear long-on but found Shabnim Ismail, who made no mistake this time.
Chinelle Henry entered with aggression, smashing a six off her very first ball, but her bold approach backfired immediately as she mistimed another big hit, falling to Sajana Sajeevan at long off. The collapse deepened when Shweta Sehrawat, trying to counterattack, fell for a duck in a similar fashion, giving Matthews her second wicket.
With UPW struggling, Uma Chetry and Deepti Sharma aimed to stabilise the innings, but scoring remained a challenge. Parunika Sisodia bowled tightly, eventually dismissing Uma, who holed out to Ismail at long-on. Matthews concluded her spell (2-25) with another economical over, although Deepti managed to sweep her for a crucial boundary. With the lower order exposed, the responsibility fell on Deepti to steer UP Warriorz towards a respectable total in the closing overs.
Amelia Kerr returned to wrap up the innings and struck immediately, stumping Deepti Sharma for 27 as she attempted to charge down the pitch. Ecclestone managed to find a boundary, but her resistance ended on the last delivery, caught by Amanjot Kaur. Kerr finished with an impressive five-wicket haul (5-38), restricting UPW to 150/9 in their 20 overs, setting Mumbai Indians a target of 151.
Brief scores:
UP Warriorz 150/9 in 20 overs (Georgia Voll 55, Grace Harris 28; Amelia Kerr 5-38, Hayley Matthews 2-25) against Mumbai Indians.
