Shabnim Ismail produced a moment of brilliance as she rattled Sophie Ecclestone’s middle stump with a searing delivery in the 19th over of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 clash between UP Warriorz and Mumbai Indians (MI).
Shabnim Ismail shatters Sophie Ecclestone’s middle stump with a fiery delivery
The fiery South African pacer, known for her raw pace and accuracy, delivered a length ball angling in towards the stumps. Ecclestone, instead of moving forward, stayed rooted to the crease, misjudging the trajectory and attempting a late cut.
However, the ball skidded on sharply, leaving the left-hander with no time to react. Missing the shot completely, she watched in dismay as her middle stump was sent cartwheeling. Ismail let out an ecstatic roar as Mumbai Indians celebrated a crucial breakthrough, further tightening their grip on the contest.
Ecclestone, who had earlier struck a boundary, could only manage six runs off eight deliveries before falling victim to Ismail’s sheer pace. The dismissal exposed the Warriorz’s lower order at a critical juncture, with the team struggling to post a competitive total. Ismail’s fiery spell ensured that Mumbai continued their dominance, pushing the Warriorz into deeper trouble as the innings neared its conclusion.
Here’s the video:
Stumps Flying all over⚡⚡
Shabnim Ismail hits her target twice 🎯🔥
Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/zpMKvBa3m1#TATAWPL | #MIvUPW | @mipaltan pic.twitter.com/iVAYdWcnrz
— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 26, 2025
Mumbai Indians’ disciplined bowling effort restricts UP Warriorz
Mumbai’s bowling attack delivered a clinical performance, restricting the Warriorz to a modest total of 142/9 in Match 11 of WPL 2025 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. After winning the toss and opting to bowl first, Mumbai’s bowlers struck at crucial junctures, ensuring that the Warriorz were never able to fully capitalize on their aggressive start.
The Warriorz began their innings on a positive note, with Grace Harris leading the charge with a blazing 45 off just 26 balls, laced with six fours and two sixes. Her attacking intent gave the Warriorz early momentum, but her dismissal in the ninth over marked a turning point, as Mumbai’s bowlers gradually tightened their grip on the game. Dinesh Vrinda tried to hold the innings together with a steady 33 off 30 balls, but frequent wickets at the other end prevented UPW from building a substantial total.
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Nat Sciver-Brunt leads the bowling attack
Mumbai’s bowlers executed their plans to perfection, with Nat Sciver-Brunt producing a match-winning spell of 3/18 in her four overs. Her ability to hit the right lengths and pick key wickets dismantled the Warriorz’s middle order. She was well supported by Ismail (2/33) and Sanskriti Gupta (2/11), who capitalized on the pressure and ensured there were no partnerships of significance.
The spin duo of Hayley Matthews and Amelia Kerr also contributed with one wicket each, further denting the Warriorz’s batting effort. The last six overs saw a complete batting collapse, with the Warriorz losing four wickets and failing to gain momentum in the death overs.
Despite the early fireworks from Grace Harris, the Warriorz’s innings lost steam as their lower-order batters failed to accelerate. Uma Chetry remained unbeaten on 13 off 20 balls, but her struggle to find boundaries underlined the Warriorz’s late-innings struggles. With wickets tumbling at regular intervals, Mumbai successfully restricted UP to a below-par score on a batting-friendly Chinnaswamy surface.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
