UP Warriorz Secure Commanding 22-Run Victory Over Mumbai Indians in WPL 2026
The UP Warriorz delivered a dominant performance on Saturday, defeating the reigning champions Mumbai Indians by 22 runs in their Women's Premier League 2026 encounter. This crucial win at Navi Mumbai's D.Y. Patil Stadium significantly boosted the Warriorz campaign momentum.
Australian Duo Sets Up Match-Winning Total
After an early setback with Kiran Navgire falling for a first-ball duck, Australian captain Meg Lanning and young batter Phoebe Litchfield took charge of the innings. The pair capitalized on excellent batting conditions, building a formidable partnership that laid the foundation for UP Warriorz's total of 187/8 in their allotted 20 overs.
Lanning entered the crease with confidence from her previous innings against Delhi Capitals. She quickly found her rhythm, targeting the leg-side boundaries effectively. The experienced batter punished any loose deliveries from Mumbai Indians pacers, striking crisp boundaries and a six over fine-leg early in her innings.
Litchfield started cautiously, managing just two runs from her initial four deliveries. She gained momentum with a boundary in the third over before showcasing her class with a beautiful cover drive against Hayley Matthews in the sixth over. The young Australian accelerated further in the ninth over, hitting Amanjot Kaur for a four and a six.
Both batters received reprieves during their innings. Litchfield was dropped on 36 by Triveni Vashistha off Nat Sciver-Brunt, while Harmanpreet Kaur missed another chance to dismiss her in the 13th over. The Australian pair made Mumbai Indians pay dearly for these missed opportunities.
Record Partnership and Individual Brilliance
Lanning and Litchfield combined for a magnificent 119-run partnership for the second wicket, reaching their century stand in the 12th over. Lanning displayed excellent adaptability, transitioning smoothly from facing pace to handling spin bowling. She reached her half-century in just 35 balls, celebrating with a clean straight six over long-off against Amelia Kerr.
Litchfield brought up her fifty in 33 balls with a powerful cover drive, demonstrating her ability to create room and free her arms through the off side. She eventually fell for a well-made 61 off 37 deliveries, while Lanning departed an over later after scoring a fluent 70 from 45 balls. Their partnership provided UP Warriorz with the perfect platform for a challenging total.
Mumbai Indians Struggle in Chase
Mumbai Indians faced early trouble in their chase, losing two wickets with just 23 runs on the board in 3.2 overs. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur walked out to bat under pressure, a familiar situation for her throughout this season. She began cautiously, absorbing pressure and trying to stabilize the innings alongside Nat Sciver-Brunt.
Kaur struck her first boundary off the eighth ball she faced, displaying control rather than aggressive intent. The pair worked on rebuilding the innings, rotating strike sensibly without forcing the pace too early. However, when Sciver-Brunt fell with the score at 44, the entire weight of the chase shifted to Kaur's shoulders.
The Mumbai Indians captain attempted to respond, pulling Chloe Tryon for a six over mid-wicket in the 11th over. This shot briefly revived hopes among supporters and the team dugout. Unfortunately, Kaur mistimed the same stroke a couple of balls later, finding Sophie Ecclestone on the boundary. Her departure for 18 runs effectively ended Mumbai Indians' realistic chances of victory.
Brief Scores and Match Outcome
UP Warriorz: 187/8 in 20 overs (Meg Lanning 70, Phoebe Litchfield 61) defeated Mumbai Indians: 165/6 in 20 overs (Amelia Kerr 49, Amanjot Kaur 41; Sneh Rana 2/30) by 22 runs.
The comprehensive victory marked a significant achievement for UP Warriorz, ending their D.Y. Patil Stadium leg of the WPL 2026 season on a high note. The team's balanced performance with both bat and ball proved too much for the defending champions, who struggled to match the Warriorz's intensity throughout the match.
