UP Warriorz set a target of 143 runs for Mumbai Indians in 20 overs. While the target seems modest, the chase could become tricky due to the pitch, which was holding up a bit during the last 10 overs of the match, making it difficult for the batters to time the ball.
Hayley Matthews and Yastika Bhatia opened the batting for Mumbai Indians, with Chinelle Henry starting with the new ball. The start was slow for MI’s batters, who struggled to time the ball, especially Yastika Bhatia, who missed a few early deliveries. Her struggles led to her dismissal for 0 off 8 balls, with UP Warriorz captain Deepti Sharma claiming the wicket with her off spin.
UP Warriorz gained the upper hand as Mumbai Indians managed just 12/1 in the powerplay. However, MI found their rhythm when Nat Sciver-Brunt took the attack to Saim Thakor, hitting three consecutive boundaries in the final over of the powerplay. This pushed Mumbai Indians to a score of 33/1 at the end of the powerplay.
Both batters gradually found their timing, although the surface became a bit sticky as the innings progressed, making it more challenging to score freely. But Matthews carried on with the momentum, adding more boundaries as the scoreboard ticked along.
At the end of 8 overs, Mumbai Indians were 48/1, with the required run rate climbing to 8.50. Matthews shifted gears in the 9th over, striking a few more boundaries against Tahlia McGrath.
By the end of 10 overs, Mumbai Indians had built a solid foundation for the chase, reaching 65/1. They needed 78 runs off the final 60 balls to secure the two points in Bengaluru.
