Harleen Deol’s glorious innings silences critics as UP Warriorz Stun Mumbai Indians in WPL

 


Despite scoring at the good strike rate in the previous match, Harleen Deol had been controversially retired out by coach Abhishek Nayar. As she walked back to the pavilion that day, her displeasure was evident. The decision backfired badly, contributing to UP Warriorz’ defeat. Just 24 hours later, against Mumbai Indians, Harleen delivered a resounding reply — with the bat.

Batting with freedom, flair and unmistakable intent, Harleen powered UP Warriorz to a commanding seven-wicket victory with 11 balls to spare, chasing down Mumbai’s total of 161. The win marked UP’s first triumph of the ongoing Women’s Premier League after a hat-trick of losses — and it came on the back of Harleen’s unforgettable knock.

Mumbai Indians, asked to bat first, struggled to gain momentum early. The new opening pair of Amanjot Kaur and G Kamalini failed to click, with Kamalini dismissed for five by Sophie Ecclestone. Amanjot made a fighting 38, but Mumbai’s scoring rate in the powerplay remained subdued. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, in fine form this season, departed early, caught brilliantly by Chloe Tryon for 16.

Nat Sciver-Brunt, returning to the XI, finally found her rhythm in the tournament and stitched together a vital 85-run partnership off 43 balls with Nicola Carey. Sciver-Brunt scored a fluent 65 off 43 deliveries, while Carey remained unbeaten on 32 from 20 balls. Mumbai finished on 161 for five, with wickets shared by Shikha Pandey, Deepti Sharma, Ecclestone and Asha Shobhana.

UP Warriorz’ chase also began cautiously. Kiran Navgire’s lean run continued as she fell for 10, while Meg Lanning’s laboured 25 off 26 balls failed to inject urgency. The tempo changed dramatically once Harleen walked in at No. 4.

What followed was a statement innings. Harleen took on seasoned bowlers like Shabnim Ismail and Sciver-Brunt with supreme confidence, finding boundaries at will. Her strokeplay was bold, clean and relentless, as if each shot carried a message for those who had doubted her a match earlier. Phoebe Litchfield offered support before falling to Amelia Kerr for 25.

With 51 needed off the last six overs, Mumbai tried everything, but the dew at DY Patil Stadium made life difficult for the bowlers. Harleen was unstoppable. She reached her half-century off just 32 balls, drawing praise from commentators who admitted they had rarely seen her bat with such authority. Her confidence grew with every boundary.

In a breathtaking display of dominance, Harleen toyed with the Mumbai attack, hammering 12 fours in a sublime innings. She remained unbeaten on 64 off 39 balls, guiding UP Warriorz home alongside Chloe Tryon.

It was more than just a match-winning knock — it was a powerful rebuttal. Harleen Deol chose the perfect stage to respond, proving just how costly it can be to doubt her ability.

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