Harleen Deol scripted a memorable comeback, shaking off the disappointment of being retired out to guide UP Warriorz to their first win of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 with a dominant seven-wicket victory over defending champions Mumbai Indians on Thursday.
Just 24 hours after her unexpected exit despite batting fluently, Harleen responded in emphatic fashion with an unbeaten 64 off 39 balls, anchoring UPW’s chase with composure and authority.
Earlier, Nat Sciver-Brunt once again showcased her brute power with a commanding 65 off 43 deliveries, lifting the Mumbai Indians to a competitive 161 for five after a sluggish start. MI managed to accelerate impressively, scoring 107 runs in the final 10 overs.
UP Warriors, however, were unfazed. Despite continued struggles at the top of the order—Meg Lanning (25 off 26) and Kiran Navgire (10 off 12) failing to provide a brisk start—Harleen took control of the chase with renewed intent.
She punished anything loose, including three boundaries in a single over off Shabnim Ismail, and impressed with her fluent strokeplay square of the wicket on the off side. Her fifty came in the 15th over with a sweep off Sanskriti Gupta, followed by two more boundaries in the same over to bring the equation down to a comfortable 29 off 24 balls.
Partnering Chloe Tryon (27 not out off 11), Harleen stayed till the end to ensure there were no late hiccups as UPW sealed their maiden win of the season after four matches.
For Mumbai Indians, the innings began slowly on a pitch offering assistance to spinners, with openers Amanjot Kaur (38 off 33) and G Kamalimi (5 off 12) unable to find momentum. At 54 for two after 10 overs, Sciver-Brunt turned the tide with fearless hitting.
After Harmanpreet Kaur (16 off 11) fell attempting a sweep off Asha Shobhana, Nicola Carey played the perfect foil as Sciver-Brunt continued her boundary spree. A pivotal 17-run over from Shobhana, featuring two fours and a straight six from Sciver-Brunt, provided the late surge that took MI past 160.
However, Harleen Deol’s redemption knock ultimately proved decisive as UP Warriorz outplayed the champions to get their WPL 2026 campaign back on track.
(By PTI Inputs)
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