Kiran Navgire had a lacklustre 2023 WPL. Within the Senior Girls’s T20 Trophy that adopted, she made simply 88 runs in six video games for Maharashtra. But, the UP Warriorz, in full religion of her big-hitting talents, tweaked their lineup within the absence of normal opener Dinesh Vrinda to present Navgire a go on the high of the order in what regarded like a difficult run chase in opposition to the Mumbai Indians on Wednesday.
Whether or not a stroke of luck, or an impressed selection, it’s truthful to imagine she has now cemented her spot.
It had been a strikingly disappointing first innings for the UP Warriorz.
2 factors within the 💼@UPWarriorz report their first win of the #TATAWPL 2024 courtesy some energy hitting 👍👍
Outcome ▶️: https://t.co/jmTNrFZNfq#TATAWPL | #MIvUPW pic.twitter.com/vA2GbStrh5
— Girls’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 28, 2024
Their restricted, inexperienced, spin-heavy bowling lineup struggled to hit their spots regardless of a promising begin and their distress was compounded by tragically sloppy fielding. However Navgire, alongside skipper Alyssa Healy, instantly put that within the rear-view mirror, hitting a blistering 94-run opening partnership to energy their facet to their first win of the season.
Navgire was the aggressor-in-chief, taking the stress off Healy. Her straight-bat front-foot play was overwhelming each tempo and spin. She smashed 5 fours and a six within the powerplay to guide UP to 61/0 within the first six – the very best powerplay rating this season. She helped herself to a 25-ball 50, and departed at 57 with six boundaries and 4 sixes.
Despite the fact that Wednesday’s innings got here as an opener, Navgire’s big-hitting potential, from ball one, makes her a possible candidate for the finisher function that India will likely be searching for somebody to carry out at this yr’s T20 World Cup. Lack of consistency had at all times been a niggling subject although, and extra performances like these will maintain her within the reckoning.
Smashing all of it throughout the park, Kiran Navgire has received off to a flying begin 🔥🔥
Dwell – https://t.co/B5aPe30OXX #TATAWPL #MIvUPW pic.twitter.com/D28SxJH1pb
— Girls’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 28, 2024
As soon as Navgire misplaced her wicket, there had been a little bit of a wobble – Issy Wong scalped each Healy and Tahlia McGrath in the identical over. However an aggressive partnership from Grace Harris and Deepti Sharma (determined to show herself as a batter having failed to take action in India colors lately) allowed them to spherical out the run chase with over three overs to spare. The duo didn’t let the boundaries dry up and saved the scorecard ticking; Harris’ over-200 strike charge, regardless of arriving at a time the group was below stress, will increase confidence in UP’s center order.
Healy’s facet had already constructed a robust platform early within the first innings, maintaining Mumbai – who had been with out common captain and middle-order enforcer Harmanpreet Kaur – right down to 13/0 within the first 4 overs, and discovering the well timed wicket of Yastika Bhatia simply as she had begun raining down boundaries.
A gentle dismissal and @UPWarriorz have their first wicket!
Yastika Bhatia is caught by Rajeshwari Gayakwad off Grace Harris’s bowling.
Dwell – https://t.co/qD5MFrgtjA #TATAWPL #MIvUPW pic.twitter.com/OcKPGambPC
— Girls’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 28, 2024
By issues of their very own making, nevertheless, they conceded the initiative. Hayley Mathews was dropped thrice as she ploughed her solution to a 47-ball 55. With just one seamer in use, their spinners failed to search out the precise size and leaked boundaries. They didn’t capitalise on the fortune (and presence of thoughts of Sophie Ecclestone) of a combination up that led to Nat Sciver-Brunt being run out. They conceded boundaries from each misfields and overthrows. Their sloppiness took Mumbai to an above-par complete of 162.
Navgire’s blistering innings, ably supported by Healy, rendered that sloppiness irrelevant. However it will go away issues the group will hope to handle sooner or later.
Transient Scores: Mumbai Indians: 161 for six in 20 overs (Hayley Matthews 55; Grace Harris 1/20) misplaced to UP Warriorz: 163 for 3 in 16.3 overs (Kiran Navgire 57; Issy Wong 2/30).