Harleen Deol's Stellar Performance Leads UP Warriorz to Victory in WPL

UP Warriorz Break Losing Streak with Win Over Mumbai Indians

Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 16: Harleen Deol's outstanding unbeaten score of 64 propelled the UP Warriorz to their inaugural victory in the Women's Premier League (WPL) season, overcoming a challenging three-match losing streak with a decisive chase against the Mumbai Indians.

Deol earned the Player of the Match title for her crucial innings and expressed her joy post-match, emphasizing the significance of this win for the team.

"It feels great, and I'm thrilled for the team to secure our first win. I was batting well yesterday too. As you saw today, Chloe (Tryon) has the ability to change the game. I approached it that way. She can hit big, but it didn't go our way. That's my perspective," Deol stated, as reported by a sports media outlet.

Reflecting on her performance, she mentioned, "Nothing was different today. I just capitalized on a few boundary balls; sometimes, it’s just your day. My preparation was normal; I was also batting well yesterday, so there was no need to dwell on my previous performance (retired out). The first two games didn’t favor me. I was trying too hard earlier. This pitch wasn’t suitable for that approach."

UP Warriorz captain Meg Lanning commended her team's resilience after early challenges and highlighted Deol's maturity during the match.

"There were many positives from our first three games, though we weren't consistent. We bounced back well tonight against a strong MI (Mumbai Indians) team. It’s been a learning experience for both me and the team. We’ve played well but not consistently," Lanning remarked.

She also mentioned that discussions within the team contributed to their turnaround.

"We’ve had conversations about our strategy. The belief and confidence were present. I had a brief chat with Deol, and she handled yesterday's performance well. She demonstrated her capabilities in this format, and I hope it boosts her confidence," Lanning added.

Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur acknowledged that her team fell short of a competitive score.

"I believed 180 was a par score. Batting first was challenging. We performed decently in the powerplay...," she commented.

Harmanpreet recognized the influence of the conditions and praised Deol's innings.

"Kudos to Harleen for her excellent batting. Chasing is always easier with dew, which was present today. We hope to perform better in the upcoming matches," she stated.

She also highlighted the chance given to younger players.

"It’s a fantastic opportunity for young bowlers. They performed well with dew around, even though our total wasn’t sufficient. Harleen showcased her potential; she always strives to excel," Harmanpreet concluded.

UP Warriorz achieved a convincing seven-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians in the Women's Premier League (WPL) on Thursday, putting an end to their losing streak in the tournament.

After facing three consecutive losses, Abhishek Nayar's team finally returned to winning form, with Harleen Deol delivering a match-winning performance. Deol remained not out at 64 off 39 balls, hitting 12 boundaries, as UP Warriorz successfully chased down the target of 162 in just 18.1 overs.