A breezy afternoon at DY Patil turned into a memorable one for UP Warriorz as they carved out a gutsy, statement victory over defending champions Mumbai Indians, sealing a thrilling 22-run win in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026. In a contest filled with momentum swings, power-hitting, and tactical bowling spells, UP Warriorz held their nerve just when it mattered most.
UP Warriorz’ innings began with a hiccup as Kiran Navgire perished for 0 in the very first over, trapped by Nicola Carey with only 5 runs on the board. That could have set panic, but skipper Meg Lanning stamped authority. With the calm assurance that has defined her career, she counter attacked in style, unleashing crisp drives and fierce pulls.
Lanning found the perfect partner in Phoebe Litchfield, and the pair transformed the innings with a 124-run second-wicket stand (12.6 overs). Lanning’s 70 off 45 balls, studded with 11 boundaries and two sixes (SR 155.55), set the ideal tone. Litchfield was even more fluent, smashing 61 off 37 with seven fours and three sixes at a blazing strike rate of 164.86.
Mumbai bowlers, led by Nat Sciver-Brunt and Hayley Matthews, struggled to find answers as the scoreboard raced past 100 inside 11 overs. Wickets then fell in a flurry as Lanning fell at 136/3, Litchfield followed soon after at 124, and UP Warriorz slipped from 136/3 to 177/6, before eventually finishing at a competitive 187/8 in 20 overs (RR 9.35). Chloe Tryon chipped in with 21 off 13, while Harleen Deol’s 25 off 16 pushed the total beyond MI’s comfort zone.
For Mumbai Indians, Nat Sciver-Brunt was the standout bowler with 2/22 from four overs, combining tight lengths with timely breakthroughs. Amelia Kerr was equally impressive, bagging 3/28, including two sharp stumpings. Hayley Matthews chipped in with 1/40, though she endured one of her costlier spells.
Chasing 188, Mumbai Indians never truly settled after losing Matthews for 13 (13) and Sajeewan Sajana for 10 (6), slipping to 23/2 in 3.2 overs. Nat Sciver-Brunt’s quick cameo 15 off 12 promised lift but ended early as Shikha Pandey struck. UP Warriorz maintained control through tidy overs and steady fielding.
Mumbai’s hopes resurfaced through Harmanpreet Kaur (18 off 21), yet her dismissal at 69/5 (10.6 ov) left an uphill task. Just when the match seemed drifting away, Amelia Kerr (49* off 28) and Amanjot Kaur (41 off 24) sparked life into the chase. Their 83-run partnership, driven by clean hitting and strike rotation, carried Mumbai to 152/6 by 18.3 overs, forcing the Warriorz to sweat.
However, needing 36 off the last 15 balls, UP Warriorz bowlers closed ranks. Deepti Sharma held her nerve after earlier expensive spells, Sophie Ecclestone applied pressure, and Kranti Gaud delivered crucial dots. Mumbai finished at 165/6, falling short by 22 runs. Among the bowlers, Shikha Pandey (2/30) and Ecclestone (1/33) excelled with control, while Deepti Sharma and Chloe Tryon claimed one wicket each, ensuring no late meltdown.
With a commanding top-order assault and clutch bowling at the death, UP Warriorz pulled off one of the standouts wins of WPL 2026. Meg Lanning, unsurprisingly, walked away with Player of the Match, a clear reminder of why she remains one of women’s cricket’s greatest modern leaders.
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