Navi Mumbai, Jan 15 (NationPress) Harleen Deol expressed her relief after aiding the UP Warriorz in securing their inaugural victory in the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) season. She noted that receiving a few boundary balls from the Mumbai Indians bowlers indicated it could be a day for her to score significantly in Match 8 held at the Dr DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.

Following her retirement out for 47 runs the previous day, Harleen shone by scoring an unbeaten 64 runs off 39 balls, featuring 12 boundaries, as UPW successfully chased down 162 runs with 11 balls remaining. "It feels great; I am happy for the team’s first win. Yesterday, I was also batting well. As you witnessed today, Chloe can shift the momentum. I took it that way. She can hit hard, but it didn’t pan out for us. That’s my perspective," Harleen remarked after receiving the Player of the Match accolade.

She brushed aside worries about her previous game retirement, emphasizing her consistent preparation. "Nothing was different today. I just got a few boundary balls; sometimes, it’s simply your day. My prep was normal; I batted well yesterday too, and there’s no need to dwell on that retirement. The first two matches didn’t favor me. I was overhitting previously, and this wicket wasn’t suitable for that," she stated.

Harleen elaborated on how the play conditions enhanced as the match advanced, facilitating easier scoring in the second innings. "Initially, scoring was challenging on the wicket. However, it improved, allowing us to strike effectively, with balls coming to us naturally. I aim to contribute in every way possible," she added.

Chloe made a crucial contribution, scoring 27 not out, ensuring UPW faced no late-game pressure during the chase. "Harleen was focused on finishing that over. I hit a six the ball before, suggesting I might go for another one, but it went down leg. Still, we’ll take the win; I’m thrilled to finally be on the board," she said.

Reflecting on her limited chances with the previous franchise, the Mumbai Indians, over three WPL seasons, she said, "It was a fantastic franchise to be part of. Competing against them today felt good. I wanted the win today, but it was indeed a good match for us. I believe we bowled well overall."

Chloe commended Harleen’s batting while also noting the demanding fielding conditions towards the end of the innings. "I anticipated the backend to turn a bit dewy. We struggled to maintain grip on the ball somewhat. We knew we had to collect balls, and Harleen played exceptionally well, setting things up for us," she explained.

Despite a right elbow injury, Chloe managed to take two vital catches, including the prized wicket of the opposing captain, Harmanpreet Kaur. "It might stick to my bed tonight; I hope to manage it with some treatment. However, I’m just glad I caught that ball and took a significant wicket against Harman," she shared.

Chloe believes this win will ease the UPW nerves in the dressing room. "We have a special group. Yesterday, we fought hard. We felt we may not have scored enough, but our effort to fight until the last over shows our determination and belief in our team," she remarked.

She acknowledged the bowling unit's challenges during the death overs but praised the batting group’s response. "As I mentioned earlier, the bowling innings didn’t go our way in the final four overs, but the way they approached the batting, especially Harleen finishing it off, was even better," she stated.

With more matches on the horizon, Chloe considers this victory vital for building momentum as they proceed in the competition. "I always believe that winning in the first half of the competitions doesn’t matter much. I’m just glad we got on the board now. We have momentum. We are facing them again in the next two days, so it’s a good opportunity to reflect on the positives and build on that. Hopefully, we can secure another win against them soon. It’s all part of cricket," she concluded.