WPL 2025: Sciver-Brunt’s Unbeaten 75 Propels MI to Top with 8-Wicket Triumph over UPW
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Synopsis
In a stellar performance, Nat Sciver-Brunt scored an unbeaten 75, leading Mumbai Indians to the top of the WPL 2025 standings with an eight-wicket victory against UP Warriorz at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Her impressive bowling of 3-18 set the stage for the win, as MI chased down a target of 143 runs comfortably.
Key Takeaways
- Nat Sciver-Brunt scored 75 not out and took 3 wickets.
- MI chased down 143 runs with 3 balls to spare.
- Hayley Matthews contributed 59 runs.
- MI’s partnership of 133 runs for the second wicket was crucial.
- MI has now achieved three consecutive wins in WPL 2025.
Bengaluru, Feb 26 (NationPress) Nat Sciver-Brunt delivered an impressive performance, scoring an unbeaten 75 runs as the Mumbai Indians surged to the top of the standings in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 with a commanding eight-wicket victory over UP Warriorz at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday. Following her remarkable bowling display of 3-18, which marked her best figures in WPL, Sciver-Brunt played a crucial role in restricting UPW to a modest 142/9. She then showcased her batting prowess, finishing with an unbeaten 75 off 44 balls, adorned with 13 fours, to guide her team home with three balls to spare.
Sciver-Brunt received solid support from Hayley Matthews, who contributed 59 runs off 50 balls. Their partnership of 133 runs for the second wicket proved decisive. Although MI started slowly in their chase, the collaboration between Nat and Hayley propelled them to their third consecutive win in this tournament.
In pursuit of 143, MI had an early break when Hayley was dropped by Sophie Ecclestone at first slip off Chinelle Henry’s delivery. However, the team lost Yastika Bhatia early in the fourth over, as she was caught at deep mid-wicket off Deepti Sharma, returning for a duck. Hayley initially struggled against Chinelle before breaking free with a massive six over square-leg. Nat began her innings with a flurry of boundaries, hitting Saima Thakor for three consecutive fours, as MI concluded the power-play at 33/1.
Following the power-play, both Hayley and Nat continued collecting boundaries effortlessly, matching the increasing required run rate. Chinelle returned for her final over, and Nat capitalized, hitting her for a series of boundaries in the 11th over. Nat achieved her sixth WPL half-century off just 29 balls by pulling a delivery from Sophie through mid-wicket for four, followed by consecutive boundaries off the spinner.
Despite Deepti's reintroduction into the bowling attack, Nat maintained her momentum, sweeping and paddle-scooping consecutive boundaries off her. Hayley then executed a brilliant pull shot off Grace Harris for four, followed by a six on a free hit. After reaching her fifty off 45 balls, Hayley further padded the score with two successive boundaries, accumulating 22 runs in the 16th over. Although she was dismissed by Sophie for 59, Harmanpreet Kaur sealed the chase with a boundary, securing an effortless victory for MI.
Brief scores:
UP Warriorz 142/9 in 20 overs (Grace Harris 45, Vrinda Dinesh 33; Nat Sciver-Brunt 3-18, Sanskriti Gupta 2-11) lost to Mumbai Indians 143/2 in 17 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 75 not out, Hayley Matthews 59; Deepti Sharma 1-25, Sophie Ecclestone 1-29) by eight wickets
