Deol strikes unbeaten fifty to secure first season win

Redemption comes fast in cricket, and for Harleen Deol, it arrived in spectacular fashion at the DY Patil Stadium. Just a day after a controversial "retired out" decision made headlines, Deol produced a masterclass innings to guide her team to victory. In the high-stakes encounter of UP Warriorz vs Mumbai Indians, the Warriorz finally opened their account in the WPL 2026 points table, handing the defending champions their second defeat in four matches.

Warriorz Chase Down the Target in Style

UP Warriorz breathed new life into their campaign with a refreshed approach. Chasing a target of 162, the team faced early jitters when key batters Kiran Navgire and Meg Lanning fell quickly, leaving the scoreboard reading a tricky 45 for 2. However, Harleen Deol walked in with intent. She seemed determined to make a statement, finding gaps on the off-side with precision.

Deol smashed an unbeaten 64 off just 39 balls, peppering the boundary rope 12 times. Her aggressive batting ensured the required run rate never spiraled out of control. She found an able partner in Chloe Tryon, who played a blinder in her second WPL innings. Tryon hammered a quickfire 27 not out off 11 balls. Together, they stitched an unbeaten 44-run partnership off just 20 deliveries to seal a comfortable seven-wicket win with 11 balls to spare.

Mumbai Indians Struggle Despite Sciver-Brunt's Heroics

Earlier in the day, the Mumbai Indians' innings was anchored by Nat Sciver-Brunt. The star all-rounder scored a resilient 65 to lift her side to a total of 161 for 5. However, MI struggled significantly during the powerplay. UPW bowlers Kranti Gaud and Shikha Pandey utilized the new ball effectively, causing the MI openers to edge and miss repeatedly.

Openers Amanjot Kaur and G Kamalini found it difficult to score freely against the disciplined UPW attack. While Sciver-Brunt and Nicola Carey accelerated in the middle overs, the slow start ultimately proved costly for the Mumbai franchise. UP Warriorz's ability to pull things back in the final overs kept the total below par, setting the stage for Deol's match-winning performance.

This victory serves as a massive morale booster for the Warriorz as the tournament progresses.