Kerala all-rounder S Sajana had a big hand in Mumbai Indians' 42-run win over UP Warriorz in the Women's Premier League in Delhi on Thursday.
While Nat Sciver-Brunt (45 off 31) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (33 off 30) added 59 off 46 balls for the third wicket to steady MI's ship, the innings got impetus due to Amelia Kerr (39 not out off 23 balls) and rising star Sajana (22 not out off 14 balls) adding 43 in 4.2 overs towards the end.
Mumbai posted 160/6 and Saika Ishque's 3/27 was vital as they restricted the Warriorz to 118/9 with Deepti Sharma unbeaten on 53. Sajana picked a wicket in the final over.
But her most memorable contribution came in the field, where she took three catches, including a senstional one to dismiss Sophie Ecclestone for a duck. Sajana covered some ground from Deep Midwicket before diving forward to take a brilliant catch.
Earlier, MI did not have the best of starts after opting to bat as they lost both the openers Yastika Bhatia and Hayley Mathews inside the fourth over.
Both the batters were dismissed by Chamari Athapaththu as they looked to go big against the Sri Lankan off-spinner.
While Sciver-Brunt played her shots during her aggressive knock, which was laced with eight hits to the fence, Harmanpreet preferred to play the role of an anchor.
But just when the partnership was looking threatening, Sciver-Brunt was cleaned by left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad, a bowler who was punished by the batter in her first couple of overs.
Sciver-Brunt was deceived by quicker delivery, which pitched on fuller length and kept a tad low.
Harmanpreet then took the onus of upping the ante in company of Kerr, who used the long handle to good effect.
The MI skipper first swept Gayakwad to deep mid-wicket and three balls later got down on her knee to hit her for a maximum.
UP skipper Alyssa Healy made a terrific bowling change bringing in Saima Thakor in the 15th over and the medium pacer went through Harmanpreet's defence with opening delivery. Harmanpreet's innings had three fours and one six.
Amanjot Kaur then spooned a Deepti Sharma delivery to Thakor to make matters worse for MI.
But Kerr rode on two dropped chances -- first when Healy dropped her in the 17th over and then Sophie Ecclestone an over later -- to play her shots and help MI cross 150-mark. Kerr and Sajana hit 10 boundaries between themselves to take MI's total to 160.
(With PTI inputs)
