Sciver-Brunt the hero as all-round Mumbai Indians trump UP Warriorz to move to No. 2
Deepti's unbeaten 53 ends up in a losing cause with Warriorz's top order falling cheaply to Saika Ishaque and Co
Deepti's unbeaten 53 ends up in a losing cause with Warriorz's top order falling cheaply to Saika Ishaque and Co
Scorer: Chandan Duorah | Commentator: Shashwat Kumar
11pm That'll be all from us for tonight. Like us, the Warriorz will be back at it tomorrow, taking on the Delhi Capitals in what might have now become a must-win game. Until then, this is goodbye from me (Shashwat), Chandan and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Goodnight and take care!
Harmanpreet Kaur, Mumbai Indians captain: While batting, we initially thought we were short. But when they came to bat, we figured out that we actually managed very well (with the bat). The partnership (between me and Sciver-Brunt) was the key. She batted really well today. She was playing her shots and I was just rotating strike. Amelia also contributed really well. They bowled well, did not give us anything easily. When we were batting, we knew that there was something in the pitch. I told them (my teammates) it was not a big total on the board but that we could manage well, if we vary the pace and bowl at the stumps. (On Saika Ishaque) Saika is smart, she knows what to do. (On the chat before the Navgire wicket) Whenever she is going to bowl a yorker, she has to bowl with her full pace. I was telling her if she has to bowl that, she has to go all-out.
Nat Sciver-Brunt, Player of the Match: (On their performance) Very happy. We wanted to put some things right from the last game. We probably did not get off to the best of starts. To assess the conditions and then get that total, it was very good. (On what led to the early wickets) We knew it was going to be a bit low but you're not really sure until you play on it. Instinct takes over sometimes and makes you take square options. It is such a quick outfield, as soon as it goes past the ring, it races away. (On her back-foot play) I like playing on the back foot and that has been a strength of mine (for a while). (On the slower ball that bowled Khemnar) Very happy with that. That is a change-up I have been working on to bowl consistently. Happy with it. Getting a couple of wickets at that point was a bonus. Really happy to restrict them to that total and help our NRR.
Alyssa Healy, UP Warriorz captain: Mumbai executed really well with the ball. To lose three in the powerplay, it was not a great way to start. Our bowlers did a fantastic job (restricting them to that score). We could not get it done with the bat. (On the catching and fielding) We have been working really hard at it. We are dropping a couple of catches a game and that is not ideal. Cannot fault anyone's effort. (On the match tomorrow) We learned a lot about the conditions tonight. Didn't experience them until tonight. We will reassess, with the same attitude and hopefully we can get a result. (On Deepti's batting) It is great to see our batters contributing. It would have been nice for the top four to do the bulk of the job. Deepti making runs has been great for the middle order and hopefully one of us can support her (tomorrow).
Saika Ishaque: (On the wicket of Navgire) Just wanted to deny her room and bowl at the pads. She (Harmanpreet) asked me what I was going to bowl (after getting hit for six). I said I wanted to bowl a yorker and I got a wicket. Last season also, there was a period when I got wickets early in the tournament but did not get them later. I had told you that time that I would love if I pick them at a later stage and happy that is happening now (laughs). We did not feel the total was less. The pitch slows down in the second innings, and we felt it was a good total to fight. (On her celebration) Just happy that I could get a wicket after a long time.
10:40pm A fairly one-sided game, and that is now how it seemed at the half-way stage. This match becoming a procession was all down to the Mumbai Indians. Ismail lit up the second innings with a fiery spell, which included a contender for ball of the tournament to Healy. Ishaque was similarly impressive, picking up three wickets and hoodwinking the batters with her flight and guile. The rest of the bowlers chipped in too, and ensured that the Warriorz could not generate momentum at any stage of the innings.
Speaking of the Warriorz, they were set back early and could never recover. They seemed too reliant on their overseas batting contingent again. Healy perished inside the powerplay, as did Athapaththu. Harris was 0 off 14 at one point, and that perhaps summed up their run-chase. Deepti did get a half-century but that was well after the game had gone by.
Harmanpreet has a word with Sajana
Gayakwad is the last batter in
SZ Thakor c Ishaque b Sajana 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
Thakor on strike now. Warriorz need 54 off 5
Sajana tobowl the last over
It is becoming a habit, but their coach Lewis believes other factors - like training patterns and unfamiliar playing spaces - are also playing a role
Deepti's unbeaten 53 ends up in a losing cause with Warriorz's top order falling cheaply to Saika Ishaque and Co