WPL 2024: Shabnim Ismail’s fiery spell paves the way for Mumbai Indians’ comprehensive win over UP Warriorz

While it may have been the UP Warriorz spinners whose suffocating line and length restricted the Mumbai Indians to 160 in the first innings, it was the furious spell by speedster Shabnim Ismail that dismantled their run chase to hand MI a 42-run win in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) game in New Delhi on Thursday.

Two days after she bowled the fastest ball (132.1 kmph) ever recorded in women’s cricket, the South African pacer would deal the death blow to the Warriorz run chase by the time she finished her frugal spell in the seventh over. Figures of 1-6 do not do full justice to Ismail’s spell, and neither do the empty stands that witnessed it on a pleasant evening at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

In a tournament dominated by spin, the effectiveness of Mumbai’s fast bowlers, led by Ismail, has been a highlight. On Thursday, she would not rely on pure pace, instead varying her speed and finding movement – both in the air and off the deck – to apply the squeeze on the Warriorz top order. Her only wicket came with a peach of a delivery – a 124 kmph ball that nipped in past Alyssa Healy’s attempted square drive and crashed into the stumps. There were plenty of other scares too.

Fast & Fiery ⚡️⚡️

Super Shabnim castles Alyssa Healy 🔥🔥#UPW lose 3⃣ wickets inside the powerplay as they reach 17/3 after 6 overs.

Live 💻📱https://t.co/qcJK240qsL#TATAWPL | #UPWvMI pic.twitter.com/2opP5h4J3k

— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) March 7, 2024

By the time Ismail’s spell ended, the Warriorz were on the back foot – 18-3 after seven overs. Even as the spinners took over, and seamers Nat Sciver-Brunt and Pooja Vastrakar took late wickets, it was Ismail’s early jolts that were the catalyst for MI. Even the bulk of Deepti Sharma’s 36-ball 53 came after the match was lost as her team crawled to a total of 118.

Turnaround through cameos

The Warriorz spinners’ consistency had MI’s top order struggling for rhythm in the first innings.

Chamari Athapathtu’s tight opening spell was the catalyst for the early slowdown (Mumbai were 37-2 after the Powerplay), not allowing the openers to hit boundaries and forcing them to hole out.

Sciver-Brunt’s crucial innings looked to turn the tide MI’s way in the middle overs. The scorecard will tell a story of plenty of useful cameos from their batting order, but the Englishwoman’s was the only free-flowing knock, and once a straighter one from Rajeshwari Gayakwad ended her stay at the crease for 45 from 31 balls, MI looked in trouble even with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur still in the middle.

The Warriorz are on 🔝 as Athapaththu spins a 🕸️ in the powerplay. #TATAWPL #TATAWPLonJioCinema #TATAWPLonSports18 #JioCinemaSports #CheerTheW pic.twitter.com/kD26LTcwWB

— JioCinema (@JioCinema) March 7, 2024

The India captain looked sluggish from the off and struggled for rhythm. Stepping into the middle in a tricky situation, when her side had been reduced to 17-2, she was keen to ride Sciver-Brunt’s momentum, scooting for quick singles and doubles and succumbing shortly after she had loosened up and tried to play with more intent.

But the nature of this format, rewarding momentum and moments over consistency, allowed MI a way back into the game. Reduced to 117-5 with 26 balls to go, Amelia Kerr and Sajana Sajeevan would combine for a quickfire partnership at the death, hitting seven boundaries in the final four overs and making sure MI got to 160, after they looked destined for a sub-150 total at one stage.

With Gujarat Giants putting up 199 a day ago, the Warriorz should have felt comfortable chasing 161, but the momentum had already shifted. Kerr and Sajana had rattled them, forcing mistakes with the ball and in the field. With her wonder spell, Ismail turned the knife in.

MI’s win puts them in a good place to ensure at least an Eliminator berth, while this result blurs the qualification picture for Warriorz, who will feel a big opportunity missed, failing to chase a 160-odd score for the second time in six games. The stakes will get higher in their next match against league-leaders Delhi Capitals.

Brief scores: Mumbai Indians 160/6 in 20 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 45, Amelia Kerr 39; Chamari Athapaththu 2/27) beat UP Warriorz 118/9 in 20 overs (Deepti Sharma 53; Saika Ishaque 3/27, Nat Sciver-Brunt 2/14, Shabnim Ismail 1/6) by 42 runs

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