Navi Mumbai, Jan 17 (NationPress) A stellar performance with the bat spearheaded by captain Meg Lanning, followed by a cohesive bowling display, enabled UP Warriorz to clinch a commanding 22-run victory against the reigning champions, Mumbai Indians, in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 10th match held at DY Patil Stadium on Saturday.

Despite the Mumbai Indians putting up a valiant fight towards the end, their chase of a daunting 188-run target ultimately fell short as they managed to score only 165 for six in their allotted 20 overs against the UP Warriorz.

The defending champions faced early setbacks, losing crucial wickets that placed them in a precarious position right from the start. Opening batter Sajeevan Sajana (10) struggled to get going and was dismissed early during the powerplay, while Hayley Matthews (13), returning to the lineup, couldn't deliver the explosive start that Mumbai desperately needed. Matthews was dismissed after a brief stint, leaving the Mumbai Indians in a tough spot.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur tried to stabilize the innings but struggled to break free against the disciplined bowling from UP Warriorz. She was dismissed for a modest 18 runs, further complicating Mumbai’s chase and increasing the pressure on the middle order. With wickets tumbling consistently, Mumbai Indians found themselves lagging behind the required run rate through the first half of their innings.

The onus then shifted to Amelia Kerr, who once again emerged as Mumbai Indians’ standout all-rounder. Kerr played a remarkable counter-attacking innings of 49 runs off just 28 balls, striking the ball with precision and targeting the shorter boundaries. Her innings featured a blend of powerful hits and clever placement, briefly reigniting Mumbai’s hopes of a successful chase.

Kerr received significant support from Amanjot Kaur, who delivered one of her best performances in the league, scoring a fluent 41 off 24 balls. Together, they formed a crucial partnership, adding 83 runs for the fifth wicket, the most substantial partnership in the Mumbai innings, and bringing the required run rate down to manageable levels.

However, UP Warriorz struck at a pivotal moment to disrupt the momentum. Shikha Pandey dismissed Amanjot Kaur with a well-placed delivery, ending the threatening partnership and shifting the momentum back in favor of the Warriorz. Kerr remained unbeaten but was unable to secure the victory for her team.

The Warriorz bowlers functioned effectively as a unit, with Deepti Sharma controlling the pace through tight overs and clever variations, while Sophie Ecclestone and Kranti Gaud applied pressure during the middle overs. Shikha Pandey concluded with remarkable figures, delivering key breakthroughs when Mumbai sought to accelerate.

Batting first after losing the toss, UP Warriorz bounced back strongly from an initial setback to post an impressive total of 187 for eight, a score that proved too high for the Mumbai Indians despite their spirited fightback in the final overs.

UP Warriorz were jolted right at the start when Kiran Navgire was bowled for a golden duck by Nicola Carey. However, captain Meg Lanning once again displayed her class and composure under pressure, forming a vital partnership with fellow Australian Phoebe Litchfield to regain control of the innings.

Lanning and Litchfield batted with authority and intelligence, blending caution with controlled aggression to accumulate 119 runs for the second wicket, marking the second-highest partnership for UP Warriorz in WPL history. Lanning anchored the partnership with her trademark precision, consistently finding gaps and punishing loose deliveries, while Litchfield complemented her skipper with fluent strokeplay and fearless shot selection.

Lanning reached her half-century in just 33 balls with a towering six off Amelia Kerr, registering her 11th fifty in the league and setting a new WPL record. She ultimately fell for an impressive 70 off 45 balls, featuring 11 fours and 2 sixes, while Litchfield followed suit shortly after with a remarkable 61 off 37 balls, hitting seven boundaries and three sixes.

Following the departure of the Australian duo, UP Warriorz maintained their momentum through brisk contributions from Chloe Tryon (21) and Harleen Deol (25). This late surge ensured that the Warriorz finished strongly, despite a remarkable last over from Amelia Kerr, who picked up three wickets in quick succession to conclude with figures of 3 for 28.

Summary of scores:

UP Warriorz posted 187/8 in 20 overs (Meg Lanning 70, Phoebe Litchfield 61; Amelia Kerr 3-28, Nat Sciver Brunt 2-22) defeated Mumbai Indians 165/6 in 20 overs (Amelia Kerr 49 not out, Amanjot Kaur 41; Shikha Pandey 2-30, Chloe Tyron 1-18) by 22 runs.