Nat Sciver-Brunt and Hayley Matthews. (WPL Photo)
NEW DELHI:
Nat Sciver-Brunt
delivered an outstanding performance, scoring an unbeaten 75 as Mumbai Indians secured the top position in the Women's Premier League (
WPL
) 2025 by defeating
UP Warriorz
by eight wickets at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
Following her career-best WPL bowling figures of 3-18 that restricted UPW to 142/9, she crafted a masterful 44-ball innings featuring 13 fours to complete the chase with three balls remaining.
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Her partnership with Hayley Matthews, who contributed 59 from 50 deliveries, proved decisive as they constructed a crucial 133-run stand for the second wicket. Despite a cautious start to their pursuit, the arrival of Nat alongside Hayley steered the team to their third consecutive victory in the tournament.
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In pursuit of 143, MI benefited from an early reprieve when Sophie Ecclestone dropped Hayley at first slip off Chinelle Henry. However, they lost Yastika Bhatia for a duck in the fourth over to Deepti Sharma.
Hayley initially struggled against Chinelle before hitting a six over square-leg, whilst Nat attacked Saima Thakor with three consecutive boundaries, taking MI to 33/1 at the power-play's conclusion.
The pair continued their effective batting display, maintaining the required scoring rate with regular boundaries. Nat particularly dominated Chinelle's final over, striking three consecutive fours in the 11th over. She reached her sixth WPL half-century from 29 deliveries, following up with additional boundaries off Sophie's bowling.
Deepti's reintroduction proved ineffective as Nat employed sweep shots to secure consecutive boundaries.
Hayley accelerated against Grace Harris, scoring a four and a six off a free hit. After reaching her fifty from 45 balls, she struck two more boundaries before falling to Sophie for 59. Harmanpreet Kaur completed the straightforward victory with a fortunate boundary through an inside edge.
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