Up Warriorz vs Mumbai Indians Team Match Scorecard

Hey there, cricket lovers! If you’re anything like me, there’s nothing quite like settling in for a Women’s Premier League (WPL) match. The energy, the skill, the sheer excitement—it’s all amplified when two powerhouse teams like Up Warriorz vs Mumbai Indians Team Match Scorecard go head-to-head. On March 6, 2025, at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, we witnessed just that: a nail-biting encounter in Match 16 of WPL 2025. Mumbai Indians pulled off a six-wicket victory, chasing down 151 with balls to spare, thanks to some explosive batting and tight bowling. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Grab a cup of chai, and let’s dive into this matchup like we’re chatting courtside. I’ll break it down simply, so whether you’re a die-hard fan or just dipping your toes into women’s cricket, you’ll feel right at home.

The Build-Up: Why This Match Mattered More Than Ever

Picture this: It’s mid-season in WPL 2025, and the points table is heating up like a summer afternoon in Lucknow. UP Warriorz, the home team captained by the ever-reliable Alyssa Healy, were staring down the barrel. Coming into this game, they’d lost their previous two matches by big margins—first to Gujarat Giants and then to Delhi Capitals. Their net run rate was dipping faster than a poorly executed googly, and with only a few games left, a win here was do-or-die for playoff hopes. The Warriorz had shown flashes of brilliance earlier, like their gritty chase against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but consistency was their Achilles’ heel.

On the flip side, Mumbai Indians, led by the cool-headed Harmanpreet Kaur, were the defending champions from 2023 and riding high. They’d already notched three wins in five games, including a dominant eight-wicket thrashing of UP Warriorz just 10 days earlier in Bengaluru. That prior meeting? Mumbai chased 143 in just 17 overs, powered by a 133-run partnership between Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt. It was a statement win that boosted their confidence sky-high. Heading into Lucknow, MI sat pretty with eight points, eyeing second place behind leaders Delhi Capitals. For them, this was about sealing a top-two spot and improving that all-important net run rate.

The head-to-head history added extra spice. Across three WPL seasons, these teams have clashed six times, with Mumbai holding a commanding 4-2 edge. UP’s wins came in tense chases—once in 2023 at DY Patil Stadium and another in 2024 at Chinnaswamy—but Mumbai’s victories have often been clinical. Fans were buzzing: Could the home crowd’s roar lift UP out of their slump, or would MI’s star-studded lineup continue their dominance? The toss went to MI, who wisely chose to bowl first on a pitch known for favoring spinners under the lights. Little did we know, dew would play its sneaky role later.

The Teams: Stars Aligned for Battle

Let’s talk squads, because in T20 cricket, it’s all about balance—batters who can explode, bowlers who can strangle, and fielders who make magic happen. UP Warriorz boasted a mix of youth and experience. Alyssa Healy at the top, with her quick hands and sharper mind, set the tone. Grace Harris, the Australian powerhouse, was their X-factor, capable of turning games single-handedly. Then there was Deepti Sharma, the off-spin wizard who’s been a WPL mainstay, and Sophie Ecclestone, England’s left-arm spinner who turns the ball like it’s on a string. Young guns like Shweta Sehrawat and Vrinda Dinesh added fresh legs, while all-rounder Tahlia McGrath provided depth. Their bench was solid too, with Rajani Chengalpet and Anjali Sarvani ready to step up. But injuries and form dips had tested their resilience.

Mumbai Indians, oh boy, what a unit! Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership is like a steady hand on the wheel—calm yet commanding. Openers Yastika Bhatia and Hayley Matthews could dismantle any attack, with Matthews’ all-round prowess (she bowls seamers too!) making her a nightmare. Nat Sciver-Brunt, the English all-rounder, is pure class with bat and ball, while Amelia Kerr from New Zealand brings that leggie magic. Add in Chloe Tryon for middle-order muscle, Shabnim Ismail’s raw pace, and Saika Ishaque’s left-arm spin, and you’ve got a team that’s tough to crack. Their bench, featuring Amanjot Kaur and Jintimani Kalita, ensured no weak links. MI’s strength? Depth. They could afford a bad over or two and still bounce back.

Both teams had tweaks: UP brought in Kshitee Goud for extra batting stability, while MI rested a fatigued player for Sajeevan Sajana. It was a clash of styles—UP’s aggressive flair versus MI’s calculated power. And with the Ekana pitch offering bounce early and grip later, strategy was key.

UP Warriorz Innings: A Rollercoaster of Hope and Heartbreak

The floodlights flickered on, and UP Warriorz strode out to bat. The crowd—mostly purple-clad Warriorz supporters—roared as Healy and Harris took strike against MI’s opening bowler, Shabnim Ismail. What followed was 20 overs of pure drama, the kind that makes T20 the best format going.

Early doors, it was all UP. Grace Harris, looking every bit the aggressor, smashed Ismail for two boundaries in the first over— a lofted drive over cover and a whip through midwicket. Healy joined the party, nurdling singles and punishing loose balls. By the end of the powerplay (first six overs), UP were 50/0, with Harris on 25 off 15. The momentum was electric; fans were dreaming of 180-plus. Harris reached her fifty in style, pulling Amelia Kerr for six over deep square leg. At 7 overs, they were 65/0—MI’s fielding looked rusty, with a couple of misfields letting extras creep in.

But cricket, as we know, loves a twist. Enter Hayley Matthews, MI’s Barbados-born star. The seam bowler struck twice in the eighth over: first, Healy (32 off 22) chipped one to mid-off, miscuing a lofted shot. Then, two balls later, Harris (56 off 28)—the danger woman—departed, caught at deep midwicket trying to clear the infield. Just like that, 65/0 became 65/2. The pressure valve tightened.

UP’s middle order fought back gamely. Tahlia McGrath and Deepti Sharma steadied the ship with a 35-run stand. McGrath’s elegant cover drives drew oohs from the stands, while Deepti picked gaps like a pro. But MI’s spinners—Kerr and Saika Ishaque—found their groove. Kerr, the leggie, bamboozled McGrath (22) with a wrong’un, trapping her lbw in the 13th over. Deepti (18) fell soon after, stumped off Kerr after dancing down the track. At 100/4 in 14 overs, UP needed a hero.

Enter Shweta Sehrawat, the young Indian batter with nerves of steel. She and Vrinda Dinesh added 30 quick runs, with Sehrawat’s pull shots echoing around Ekana. But MI clawed back: Sophie Ecclestone, brought on for a review (upheld on a wide call, oddly), got Dinesh (12) with a ripper that turned square. Kerr then claimed her third, as Rajani Chengalpet holed out. The required fireworks fizzled—UP lost 5/25 in the middle overs.

In the death, Anjali Sarvani and Kshitee Goud scraped 20 more, but Ismail returned to mop up with 2/30. UP finished at 150/9 in 20 overs—a par score at best, but one that screamed “what if?” Harris’ 56 was the top knock, supported by Healy’s 32. Extras (6 wides, a no-ball) hurt, and dot balls (45 in total) stifled momentum. It was a tale of starts squandered, leaving the Warriorz frustrated and the home crowd hushed.

Now, for the full picture, here’s the detailed scorecard for UP Warriorz’s innings. I’ve laid it out in a table so you can scan it easily—no squinting at fine print!

Fall of Wickets: 65-1 (Healy, 7.2 ov), 65-2 (Harris, 7.4 ov), 100-3 (McGrath, 12.6 ov), 110-4 (Deepti, 14.1 ov), 140-5 (Dinesh, 18.2 ov), 145-6 (Chengalpet, 19.1 ov), 149-7 (Sarvani, 19.4 ov), 150-8 (Ecclestone, 19.5 ov), 150-9 (19.6 ov).

Bowling for MI: Hayley Matthews 4-0-32-2 (econ 8.00), Shabnim Ismail 4-0-30-2 (econ 7.50), Amelia Kerr 4-0-38-3 (econ 9.50), Saika Ishaque 4-0-25-0 (econ 6.25), Nat Sciver-Brunt 2-0-12-0 (econ 6.00), Chloe Tryon 2-0-11-0 (econ 5.50).

(Word count so far: ~850. Let’s keep rolling!)

Mumbai Indians’ Chase: Calm, Composed, and Clinical

Chasing 151 on a slowing pitch? Piece of cake for MI, right? Well, not quite at first. UP Warriorz opened with pace from Anjali Sarvani and spin from Deepti Sharma, aiming to exploit any nerves. Yastika Bhatia, MI’s keeper-batter, started cautiously, defending a testing outswinger. But partner Hayley Matthews? She meant business from ball one.

Matthews, fresh off her Player of the Match in Bengaluru, flicked Sarvani for four through square leg in the second over. By over 3, MI were 20/0, with Matthews racing to 15 off 8. UP struck back—Sarvani induced an edge from Bhatia (5), caught behind by Healy. 25/1. Enter Nat Sciver-Brunt, the all-rounder with a cover drive that could melt hearts. She and Matthews rebuilt with silky singles, rotating strike like pros.

The partnership swelled to 60 by the 10-over mark. MI reached 50 in 5.6 overs—faster than UP’s powerplay. Dew started glistening on the outfield, making the ball skid. Deepti came on and nearly struck, beating Sciver-Brunt’s bat thrice, but no edge. Instead, Matthews brought up her fifty off 28 balls, pulling Ecclestone for six. The crowd’s cheers turned to groans as MI ticked past 100 in 12 overs.

UP’s bowlers toiled. Ecclestone, with her variations, got Sciver-Brunt (32 off 25) stumped in the 14th over— a rare lapse as she advanced and missed. 110/2. But in walked Harmanpreet Kaur, the skipper, who loves a chase. She and Matthews added 40 in quick time, Harmanpreet whipping boundaries like it was practice. At 140/2 in 17 overs, victory loomed.

The finish? Clinical. Matthews fell for a match-winning 68 off 46 (8 fours, 2 sixes), caught at long-on off Deepti. But Amanjot Kaur (not out 12) and Chloe Tryon (not out 8) steered MI home in 18.3 overs. 153/4. UP’s fielding slipped—a dropped catch when Matthews was on 2 haunted them. It was a chase that showcased MI’s depth: no individual heroics needed, just smart cricket.

Here’s the scorecard table for Mumbai’s innings—easy to follow, promise!

Fall of Wickets: 25-1 (Bhatia, 3.4 ov), 110-2 (Sciver-Brunt, 13.5 ov), 140-3 (Matthews, 17.2 ov), 145-4 (Harmanpreet, 18.1 ov).

Bowling for UPW: Anjali Sarvani 3.3-0-28-1 (econ 8.09), Deepti Sharma 4-0-30-2 (econ 7.50), Sophie Ecclestone 4-0-25-1 (econ 6.25), Tahlia McGrath 2-0-15-0 (econ 7.50), Grace Harris 1-0-10-0 (econ 10.00), Shweta Sehrawat 2-0-18-0 (econ 9.00), Rajani Chengalpet 2-0-25-0 (econ 12.50).

(Word count: ~1450. Almost there—let’s wrap with insights!)

Key Performances: Standouts Who Stole the Show

Man of the moment? Hayley Matthews, hands down. Her 68 was the anchor, blending aggression with control. Player of the Match award? Hers, for the all-round impact—her two wickets up top set the tone. Amelia Kerr’s 3/38 was a revelation; the young Kiwi’s variations dismantled UP’s middle. For UP, Grace Harris’ 56 was a lone bright spark, but Deepti’s 2/30 in a losing cause showed her class.

Fielding highlights? MI’s catches were sharp—Tryon at deep midwicket for Harris was a screamer. UP dropped two, costing 50 runs easy. Stats-wise, MI’s chase was their third successful one over 150 in WPL history against UP.

The Aftermath: What It Means for WPL 2025

MI jumped to second with 10 points, net run rate gleaming at +0.85. Playoffs? Locked in. UP, now on four points after three straight losses, face elimination unless they win out against RCB and GG. The heartbreak stung—coach Lisa Keightley called it a “learning curve,” while Harmanpreet praised her team’s “cool heads.”