WPL: How Warriorz’s gamble of making Kiran Navgire open the innings paid off

Kiran Navgire had a lacklustre 2023 WPL. In the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy that followed, she made just 88 runs in six games for Maharashtra. Yet, the UP Warriorz, in full faith of her big-hitting abilities, tweaked their lineup in the absence of regular opener Dinesh Vrinda to give Navgire a go at the top of the order in what looked like a challenging run chase against the Mumbai Indians on Wednesday.

Whether a stroke of luck, or an inspired choice, it is fair to assume she has now cemented her spot.

It had been a strikingly disappointing first innings for the UP Warriorz.

2 points in the 💼@UPWarriorz record their first win of the #TATAWPL 2024 courtesy some power hitting 👍👍

Result ▶️: https://t.co/jmTNrFZNfq#TATAWPL | #MIvUPW pic.twitter.com/vA2GbStrh5

— Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 28, 2024

Their limited, inexperienced, spin-heavy bowling lineup struggled to hit their spots despite a promising start and their misery was compounded by tragically sloppy fielding. But Navgire, alongside skipper Alyssa Healy, immediately put that in the rear-view mirror, hitting a blistering 94-run opening partnership to power their side to their first win of the season.

Navgire was the aggressor-in-chief, taking the pressure off Healy. Her straight-bat front-foot play was overwhelming both pace and spin. She smashed five fours and a six in the powerplay to lead UP to 61/0 in the first six – the highest powerplay score this season. She helped herself to a 25-ball 50, and departed at 57 with six boundaries and four sixes.

Even though Wednesday’s innings came as an opener, Navgire’s big-hitting ability, from ball one, makes her a potential candidate for the finisher role that India will be seeking someone to perform at this year’s T20 World Cup. Lack of consistency had always been a niggling issue though, and more performances like these will keep her in the reckoning.

Smashing it all across the park, Kiran Navgire has got off to a flying start 🔥🔥

Live – https://t.co/B5aPe30OXX #TATAWPL #MIvUPW pic.twitter.com/D28SxJH1pb

— Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 28, 2024

Once Navgire lost her wicket, there had been a bit of a wobble – Issy Wong scalped both Healy and Tahlia McGrath in the same over. But an aggressive partnership from Grace Harris and Deepti Sharma (desperate to prove herself as a batter having failed to do so in India colours recently) allowed them to round out the run chase with over three overs to spare. The duo did not let the boundaries dry up and kept the scorecard ticking; Harris’ over-200 strike rate, despite arriving at a time the team was under pressure, will boost confidence in UP’s middle order.

Healy’s side had already built a strong platform early in the first innings, keeping Mumbai – who were without regular captain and middle-order enforcer Harmanpreet Kaur – down to 13/0 in the first four overs, and finding the timely wicket of Yastika Bhatia just as she had begun raining down boundaries.

A soft dismissal and @UPWarriorz have their first wicket!

Yastika Bhatia is caught by Rajeshwari Gayakwad off Grace Harris's bowling.

Live – https://t.co/qD5MFrgtjA #TATAWPL #MIvUPW pic.twitter.com/OcKPGambPC

— Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 28, 2024

Through problems of their own making, however, they conceded the initiative. Hayley Mathews was dropped thrice as she ploughed her way to a 47-ball 55. With only one seamer in use, their spinners failed to find the right length and leaked boundaries. They failed to capitalise on the fortune (and presence of mind of Sophie Ecclestone) of a mix up that led to Nat Sciver-Brunt being run out. They conceded boundaries from both misfields and overthrows. Their sloppiness took Mumbai to an above-par total of 162.

Navgire’s blistering innings, ably supported by Healy, rendered that sloppiness irrelevant. But it would leave concerns the team will hope to address in the future.

Brief Scores: Mumbai Indians: 161 for 6 in 20 overs (Hayley Matthews 55; Grace Harris 1/20) lost to UP Warriorz: 163 for 3 in 16.3 overs (Kiran Navgire 57; Issy Wong 2/30).

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