Had it not been for Nat Sciver-Brunt’s lead act, Mumbai Indians would have struggled to post 182 for four in the eliminator. Then an Issy Wong hat-trick – the first of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) – made sure the target eventually proved too steep for UP Warriorz to scale.

In the end, MI raced to a comfortable 72-run win in front of the almost full DY Patil Stadium on Friday to reach the final where they will face table-toppers Delhi Capitals at the Brabourne Stadium on Sunday.

MI (w) vs UP (w) Stats

The course of the match could have shifted in Warriorz’s favour had Sophie Ecclestone not dropped her England compatriot at mid-off in the sixth over off the bowling of Rajeshwari Gayakwad.

Sciver-Brunt was on six at that time, MI were at 45 for one, and the England all-rounder made full use of the reprieve by punishing the Warriorz with her unbeaten knock of 72 from 38 balls which came at a strike-rate of 189.47 with the help of nine fours and two sixes.

Ticket to the Final 🎟️ – BOOKED ✅#OneFamily #MumbaiIndians #AaliRe #WPL2023 #MIvUPW #ForTheW pic.twitter.com/Pxv4InOlul

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) March 24, 2023

Pumped up by a whirlwind finish to their innings

MI bowlers had virtually sealed the match in the first eight overs when they reduced Warriorz to 56 for four. With their top-scorers – Alyssa Healy (11), Tahlia McGrath (7) and Grace Harris (14) – back in the pavilion during that period, Warriorz had no chance of mounting a comeback against a MI bowling line-up which has never failed in the tournament when their tails have been up.

Final mein swagat nahi karoge humara? 👀💙@ImHarmanpreet | #OneFamily #MumbaiIndians #AaliRe #WPL2023 #MIvUPW #ForTheW pic.twitter.com/cognpDFEcT

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) March 24, 2023

Kiran Navgire Top scorer batsman for up w

• Kiran Navgire (43, 27b; 4×4, 3×6) tried her best to keep the Warriorz afloat with some huge blows but Wong’s hat-trick stopped their lower-order from mounting a comeback.
• Navgire was looking to take on MI bowlers and to some extent she was successful. Sniffing the danger, Harmanpreet brought Wong back into action in the 13th over and it paid off.
• Wong, who had dismissed Healy in the third over, got Navgire off a full toss which she hit straight to Sciver-Brunt at the mid-wicket boundary.

#TATAWPLFINAL#MIvsUPW #WPL2023
Congratulations Mumbai Indians 💐💐💐👌👌 pic.twitter.com/41cciA9Hj5

— Sagar thakur (@thakurarya2022) March 24, 2023

Brunt was in the thick of action throughout the match, having also contributed with the ball when she dismissed Harris. 20-year-old Wong then castled Smiran Shaikh (0) and Ecclestone (0) to finish with figures of four for 15. Eventually, Warriorz’s innings folded at 110 in 17.4 overs.

MI (w) Stats After Kaur Wicket

Earlier, MI were 104 for three when skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (14, 15b; 1×4) departed and the match was slightly tilting in Warriorz’s favour who till that point had bowled well despite committing multiple blunders in the field.

But a 37-ball 60 run partnership between Sciver-Brunt and Amelia Kerr (29, 19b; 5×4) gave MI innings the much-needed push in the death overs.

𝙁𝙄𝙍𝙎𝙏 𝙃𝘼𝙏-𝙏𝙍𝙄𝘾𝙆 𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙍 𝙄𝙉 #𝙏𝘼𝙏𝘼𝙒𝙋𝙇 🔥

Take a bow Issy Wong 🫡

Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/QnFsPlkrAG#Eliminator | #MIvUPW pic.twitter.com/n3ZKFaxNvP

— Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) March 24, 2023

Issy Wong On Hat-trick

Mumbai Indians pacer Issy Wong made history in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) on Friday by taking a hat-trick in the Eliminator against UP Warriorz at the DY Patil Stadium.

England’s Wong is the first player ever to take a hat-trick in the WPL, sending back the big-hitting Kiran Navgire, Simran Shaikh and Sophie Ecclestone off consecutive deliveries in the 13th over.