Rosa Simkin (@rosatalksball) – 28/02/24
Date – 28/02/24
Time – 7:30pm (Local – GMT +5), 2:00pm (UK – GMT)
Location – M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Where to Watch – Sports18 Network (Local), Sky Sports Mix (UK)
My Prediction – Mumbai Indians Win
My Tournament Guide – https://rosatalksball.com/2024/02/22/2024-womens-premier-league-everything-you-need-to-know/
This year’s WPL is well and truly underway, as we head into the 6th match which will see the Mumbai Indians take on UP Warriorz in Bengaluru. Both sides enter this game in differing positions, with Mumbai looking comfortable with two wins from two second in the table, separated from RCB who are in first by net run rate. The Warriorz on the other hand have struggled to get going this year, losing both their games so far and sitting in fourth. If the side wish to progress out of the group stage, a win in today’s match up is critical. Here is the latest news, stats, analysis word from the coaches and more ahead of the fixture this afternoon.
Order of Content – Order of Contents – Head to Head, The Squads, Mumbai Indians (Word from Charlotte Edwards, The Leadership Team, Last Time Out, 2024 Stats so Far, 2023 Stats, 2024 Fixtures), UP Warriorz (Word from Jon Lewis, The Leadership Team, Last Time Out, 2024 Stats so Far, 2023 Stats, 2024 Fixtures), WPL 2024 Current Standings.
Head to Head:
Three Games (All 2023) – Mumbai Indians (2 Wins), UP Warriorz (1 Win)
The Squads:
*OS indicates an Overseas player*
Mumbai Indians – Amanjot Kaur, Amelia Kerr (OS), Chloe Tyron (OS), Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Hayley Matthews (OS), Humairaa Kazi, Issy Wong (OS), Jintimani Kalita, Nat Sciver-Brunt (OS), Pooja Vastrakar, Priyanka Bala, Saika Ishaque, Yastika Bhatia, Shabnim Ismail (OS), Sajeevan Sajana, Amandeep Kaur, Fatima Jaffer, Keerthana Balakrishnan
UP Warriorz – Alyssa Healy (C & OS), Anjali Sarvani, Deepti Sharma, Grace Harris (OS), Kiran Navgire, Chamari Athapaththu+ (OS), Laxmi Yadav, Parshavi Chopra, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Yashasri, Shweta Sehrawat, Sophie Ecclestone (OS), Tahlia McGrath (OS), Danielle Wyatt (OS), Vrinda Dinesh, Saima Thakor, Poonam Khenmar, Gouher Sultana
+Lauren Bell (ECB selection issues) replaced by Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka)+
The sides remain rather similar to that of their 2023 counterparts, with each side choosing to release 4 players and retaining 13.
Mumbai Indians
The Mumbai Indians have certainly built on their 2023 form this year, as they look to retain their WPL trophy! The side elected to keep the majority of their players, and presumably maintain the same ethos as they did last time out. There first game kicked of the WPL in style last Friday, after 2 wickets in the final over left Mumbai needing 5 off the final ball, with the new batter Sajeevan Sajana facing her first ball. Against all odds however she smashed the final ball of the over for six, securing their first win and bringing them up the table.
The side is once again led by England’s Charlotte Edwards, with Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur resuming her captaining duties. Mumbai Indians are one of only two WPL sides who have elected for homegrown talent to lead from the front in this years WPL. The 34-year-old all rounder plays predominantly as a batter and was fundamental to her sides success and eventual victory in last years tournament, scoring 281 runs overall making her the fourth placed run scorer in the final purple cap standings.
The WPL was massive for women’s cricket. Every eyeball in the world was on India during that time. When you’re in it, you don’t probably quite see that as much. When I got home, spoke to people in other countries, I realised how big a reach the tournament has had. It has been a real gamechanger for women’s cricket. Personally, it’s just amazing to be part of it and then to have the success we had as a team made it even more special. It would have to be one of the highlights of my career in terms of being there from the start, from the auction to playing and the final, playing in front of that many people. It was a pretty special month for all the players, not just Mumbai Indians.” – Edwards on the impact of WPL Season One.
Last Time Out:
The Mumbai Indians secured their second win of the tournament against the Gujarat Giants last time out in Bengaluru, securing an easy victory. After winning the toss and electing to field first they restricted the Giants to 126/9 from their 20 overs, the wickets curtosy of Amelia Kerr with 4/17 (4.0) and Shabnim Ismail with 3/18 (4.0).
The chase proved simple, with Mumbai securing the victory in 18.1 overs and ending on 129/5 from their innings. Harmanpreet Kaur was in the runs, scoring 46* from 41 runs.
2024 Stats so Far:
4s – 34
6s – 6
Top 3 Wicket Takers:
- Amelia Kerr (New Zealand) – 6 Wickets (8.0), 7.50 Economy & 10.0 Average.
- Shabnim Ismail (South Aftica) – 4 Wickets (8.0), 5.25 Economy & 10.5 Average.
- Nat Sciver-Brunt (England) – 3 Wickets (6.0), 7.83 Economy & 15.66 Average/
Top 3 Run Scorers:
- Harmanpreet Kaur (India) – 101 Runs (2 Innings)
- Yastika Bhatia (India) – 64 Runs (2 Innings)
- Amelia Kerr (New Zealand) – 55 Runs (2 Innings)
Best Bowling Average – Amelia Kerr (New Zealand) – 10.0 Average
Best Economy – Shabnim Ismail (South Africa) – 5.25 Economy
Highest Batting Strike Rate – Sajeevan Sajana (India) – 600.00 SR
Best Batting Average – Harmanpreet Kaur (India) – 101.0 Average
2023 Top Wicket Takers & Run Scorers:
Top 5 Wicket Takers:
- Hayley Matthews (West Indies, 1st overall) – 16 Wickets from 204 balls at an average of 12.62 and an economy of 5.94.
- Issy Wong (England, 3rd Overall) – 15 Wickets from 195 balls at an average of 14.00 and an economy of 6.46.
- Amelia Kerr (New Zealand, 3rd Overall) – 15 Wickets from 196 balls at an average of 14.06 and an economy of 6.45.
- Saika Ishaque (India, 5th Overall) – 15 Wickets from 209 balls at an average of 16.26 and an economy of 7.00.
- Nat Sciver-Brunt (England, 8th Overall) – 10 Wickets from 192 balls at an average of 22.80 per wicket and an economy of 7.12.
Top 5 Run Scorers:
- Nat Sciver-Brunt (England, 2nd Overall) – 332 runs from 10 Innings with an average of 66.40.
- Harmanpreet Kaur (India, 4th Overall) – 332 runs from 10 innings with an average of 66.4.
- Hayley Matthews (West Indies, 5th Overall) – 271 runs from 10 innings with an average of 30.11.
- Yastika Bhatia (India, 11th Overall) – 214 runs from 10 innings with an average of 21.4.
- Amelia Kerr (New Zealand, 20th Overall) – 149 runs from 7 innings with an average of 37.25.
2024 Fixtures (Still to Play):
Wednesday, February 28: Mumbai Indians v UP Warriorz (Bengaluru, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
Saturday, March 2: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Mumbai Indians (Bengaluru, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
Tuesday, March 5: Delhi Capitals v Mumbai Indians (Delhi, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
Thursday, March 7: Mumbai Indians v UP Warriorz (Delhi, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
Saturday, March 9: Gujarat Giants v Mumbai Indians (Delhi, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
Tuesday, March 12: Mumbai Indians v Royal Challengers Bangalore (Delhi, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
UP Warriorz
The UP Warriorz similarly to Mumbai elected to keep the majority of their playing squad, releasing just 4 players and retaining 13. Unfortunately for them however, this has back fired with 2 losses from their opening two games and their hopes of qualification out of the group stage hangs in the balance. A win from today’s game is absolutely crucial for the possible success of the side, as they look to get one step further and reach the final after losing to today’s opponents Mumbai, in the eliminator last year.
For me they have three core issues: a minimal fan base due to being a “new franchise”, the makeup of their XI, given the players they have had available and so far the inability for the side albeit unchanged to gel and work as a unit. For their first two games, they have elected to select the overseas quartet of captain Alyssa Healy, England’s Sophie Eccleston and Australia’s Thalia McGrath and Grace Harris, leaving batting duo Chamari Athapaththu and Danni Wyatt on the bench. For a side struggling to get going from the start of their innings and struggling for runs as a whole, for me these omissions are rather baffling and I hope to see one or both of these players enter the side for today’s match up.
The side are once again led by England women’s head coach Jon Lewis and captained by Australian captain Alyssa Healy.
“I think it’s a balance of both [the way he looks at the game]. Numbers are useful to help predict what may happen. Most of the numbers that you get are historical, [based on] things that happened in the past. You’ll notice from the game itself that it always develops and grows. My overriding view is that people win games, so getting people in the right head space and helping them perform to the best of their ability is probably the most important thing about running a cricket team,” – Head coach Jon Lewis on how he approaches the games
Last Time Out:
The UP Warriorz had a difficult tie against the Delhi Capitals on Tuesday. After losing the toss and being but in to bat by DC the side struggled to get going and despite a well made 45 from 42 deliveries by Shweta Sehrawat they only managed 119/9 from their 20 overs. The second highest score being only 17 runs, then 13 for the Warriorz.
With a minimal total to defend unfortunately the task was too steep for the Warriorz bowling attack, the Delhi Capitals chased down the total in just 14.3 overs ending their innings on 123/1. The wicket came the way of Sophie Ecclestone, who ended with figures of 1/31 (3.3). This loss marks their second in just as many games!
2024 Stats so Far:
4s – 28
6s – 6
Top 3 Wicket Takers:
- Rajeshwari Gayakwad (India) – 2 Wickets (7.0), 6.28 Economy & 22.0 Average.
- Sophie Ecclestone (England) – 2 Wickets (7.3), 7.60 Economy & 28.5 Average.
- Grace Harris (Australia) – 1 Wicket (3.0), 7.33 Economy & 22.0 Average.
Top 3 Run Scorers:
- Shweta Sehrawat (India) – 76 Runs, 2 Innings
- Grace Harris (Australia) – 55 Runs, 2 Innings
- Poonam Khemnar (India) – 24 Runs, 2 Innings
Best Bowling Average – Rajeshwari Gayakwad (India) – 22.0 Average
Best Economy – Rajeshwari Gayakwad (India) – 6.28 Economy
Highest Batting Strike Rate – Poonam Khemnar (India) – 150.00 SR
Best Batting Average – Shweta Sehrawat (India) – 38.0 Average
2023 Top Wicket Takers & Run Scorers:
Top 5 Run Scorers:
- Thalia McGrath (Australia, 3rd Overall) – 302 runs from 8 innings at an average of 50.33.
- Alyssa Healy (Australia, 8th Overall) – 253 runs from 9 innings at an average of 31.62.
- Grace Harris (Australia, 10th Overall) – 230 runs from 5 innings at an average of 57.5.
- Kiran Navgire (India, 18th Overall) – 155 runs from 8 innings at an average of 19.37.
- Deepti Sharma (India) – 90 runs from 8 innings at an average of 12.85.
Top 5 Wicket Takers:
- Sophie Ecclestone (England, 2nd Overall) – 16 Wickets from 213 balls at an average of 14.68 and an economy of 6.61.
- Deepti Sharma (India, 12th Overall) – 9 Wickets from 209 balls at an average of 34.33 and an economy of 8.87.
- Rajeshwari Gayakwad (India, 14th Overall) – 7 Wickets from 180 balls at an average of 35.14 and an economy of 8.20.
- Anjali Sarvani (India) – 4 Wickets from 138 balls at an average of 45.5 and an economy of 7.91.
- Shabnim Ismail (South Africa) – 3 Wickets from 63 balls at an average of 30.66 and an economy of 8.76.
2024 Fixtures (Still to Play):
Wednesday, February 28: Mumbai Indians v UP Warriorz (Bengaluru, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
Friday, March 1: Gujarat Giants v UP Warriorz (Bengaluru, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
Monday, March 4: Royal Challengers Bangalore v UP Warriorz (Bengaluru, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
Thursday, March 7: Mumbai Indians v UP Warriorz (Delhi, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
Friday, March 8: Delhi Capitals v UP Warriorz (Delhi, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
Monday, March 11: Gujarat Giants v UP Warriorz (Delhi, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
2024 WPL Current Standings:
