The Women’s Premier League 2026 witnessed a batting masterclass on January 17. UP Warriorz defeated Mumbai Indians by 22 runs at DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. Captain Meg Lanning led from the front with a brilliant 70 off 45 balls, while Phoebe Litchfield smashed 61 off 37 deliveries. Their 119-run second-wicket partnership set up a massive total of 187/8.
For Mumbai Indians, Amelia Kerr fought hard with an unbeaten 49 off 28 balls, and Amanjot Kaur added a quick 41. The pair put on 83 runs for the sixth wicket, giving MI a glimmer of hope. However, the required rate proved too steep, and MI finished at 165/6, falling short by 22 runs.
Match Summary
Here is the complete match summary of this dominant UPW performance:
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| UP Warriorz Women Score | 187/8 (20 overs) |
| Mumbai Indians Women Score | 165/6 (20 overs) |
| Match Result | UPW won by 22 runs |
| Best Batting (UPW) | Meg Lanning – 70 off 45 balls (11 fours, 2 sixes) |
| Best Batting (MI) | Amelia Kerr – 49* off 28 balls (6 fours, 1 six) |
| Best Bowling (UPW) | Shikha Pandey – 2/30 in 4 overs (Econ: 7.50) |
| Best Bowling (MI) | Amelia Kerr – 3/28 in 4 overs (Econ: 7.00) |
| Best Fielder | Gunalan Kamalini (MI) – 3 dismissals (2 stumpings, 1 catch) |
| Player of the Match | Meg Lanning (UPW) |
Mumbai Indians won the toss and chose to bowl first. The decision seemed smart when Nicola Carey bowled Kiran Navgire for a duck in the first over. But Meg Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield took charge after that early setback and punished the MI bowlers throughout the middle overs.
UP Warriorz Innings: 187/8 in 20 Overs
UP Warriorz lost Kiran Navgire off just the fourth ball of the innings. Nicola Carey bowled her for a duck, and UPW were 5/1 immediately. But that early wicket only fired up captain Meg Lanning.
Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield launched a brutal counterattack. The pair raced to 50 in just 32 balls, with Lanning doing most of the damage early on. By the strategic timeout at the end of the seventh over, UPW had recovered to 63/1. Lanning was batting on 42, and Litchfield had settled in at 16.
The Australian captain reached her fifty off just 35 balls, hitting 7 fours and 2 sixes. Litchfield matched her aggression from the other end. Their second-wicket partnership brought up 100 runs in only 69 balls. UPW crossed the 100-mark in the 12th over with both batters well set.
Litchfield completed her fifty off 33 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes. The partnership finally ended at 119 runs when Amanjot Kaur had Litchfield caught by Sanskriti Gupta for 61. Just seven balls later, Hayley Matthews removed Lanning for 70, caught by Amanjot Kaur at deep midwicket.
The momentum shifted after those two wickets. Harleen Deol added a quick 25 off 16 balls, and Chloe Tryon smashed 21 off 13 deliveries. But MI fought back hard at the death. Nat Sciver-Brunt picked up two wickets in the 18th over, removing Tryon and Shweta Sehrawat in consecutive deliveries.
Amelia Kerr then produced a brilliant final over. She dismissed Harleen Deol, Sophie Ecclestone, and Deepti Sharma in quick succession. Gunalan Kamalini played a key role behind the stumps, completing two stumpings and a catch. UPW lost five wickets for just 12 runs in the last two overs but still posted a challenging 187/8.
Mumbai Indians Chase: 165/6 in 20 Overs
Mumbai Indians needed 188 to win, and their chase started poorly. Sophie Ecclestone struck first, getting Hayley Matthews caught and bowled for 13. Kranti Gaud trapped Sajeevan Sajana lbw for 10, and MI slipped to 23/2 in the fourth over.
At the strategic timeout, MI sat at 38/2 with Nat Sciver-Brunt and captain Harmanpreet Kaur at the crease. The required rate had already climbed above 10 runs per over. Shikha Pandey then removed Sciver-Brunt for 15, caught by Lanning at cover. MI were 44/3 and in deep trouble.
Deepti Sharma dismissed Nicola Carey for 6, and Chloe Tryon got the big wicket of Harmanpreet Kaur for 18. At 69/5 after 11 overs, the match looked all but over. MI needed 119 runs from 54 balls with just five wickets in hand.
Then Amelia Kerr and Amanjot Kaur decided to fight back. The pair launched an incredible counterattack, putting on 83 runs for the sixth wicket. They reached their 50-run partnership in just 26 balls, with Amanjot Kaur doing most of the damage. She smashed 4 fours and 3 sixes in her quick-fire 41 off 24 deliveries.
By the second strategic timeout at 16 overs, MI had recovered to 125/5. Kerr was batting on 26, and Amanjot Kaur had moved to 35. Suddenly, MI needed 63 from 24 balls. The asking rate was high but not impossible.
Shikha Pandey broke the partnership in the 19th over, getting Amanjot Kaur caught and bowled for 41. MI still needed 36 from 9 balls. Kerr kept fighting, finishing unbeaten on 49 off 28 balls with 6 fours and a six. Gunalan Kamalini added 9 not out, but it was not enough. MI finished at 165/6, falling short by 22 runs.
Key Highlight: Player of the Match: Meg Lanning Leads from the Front
Meg Lanning showed why she remains one of the best batters in women’s cricket. Coming in after Kiran Navgire’s early dismissal, she took complete control of the innings:
- With the bat: 70 off 45 balls (11 fours, 2 sixes)
- Strike rate: 155.55
- Partnership with Litchfield: 119 runs off 73 balls
Lanning dominated from the start. She reached her fifty in just 35 balls and kept finding boundaries throughout her innings. Her 11 fours came from all parts of the ground, showing her complete range of shots. The Australian captain targeted Hayley Matthews and Amanjot Kaur in particular, taking 78 runs from their combined 6 overs.
Her 119-run partnership with Litchfield laid the foundation for UPW’s big total. The pair took the attack to MI’s bowlers and never let them settle into any rhythm. Even after Lanning’s dismissal, the platform she created allowed the lower order to push the score past 185.
Conclusion: What This Result Means
UP Warriorz added 2 more points to their WPL 2026 campaign with this convincing victory. Meg Lanning’s captaincy continues to inspire her team, and the batting unit looks in excellent form. The partnership between Lanning and Litchfield will worry opposition teams throughout the tournament.
Mumbai Indians will take heart from the fighting partnership between Amelia Kerr and Amanjot Kaur. Both showed they can turn games around when needed. However, MI’s top-order struggles remain a concern. Losing early wickets against quality attacks puts too much pressure on the middle order.
This match proved the value of a strong opening partnership. UPW’s 119-run stand between Lanning and Litchfield gave them a cushion that MI could never overcome, despite their late fightback. Setting a target of 188 was always going to be tough to chase, and the early wickets made it nearly impossible.
