Fantasy: Sophie, Amelia and McGrath could be your way-to-go

How a week could change everything. A week ago, Mumbai were comfortably topping the table, but now they have to play the dominant UP Warriorz to find themselves a place in the final. If they make one mistake, one small mistake, it will be the Warriorz who will be in the final. 

So, every step that Mumbai will take during the clash will be done after research to tiny bits. 

Pitch and conditions

At the start of the tournament, the DY Patil Stadium was a good venue for the batters, with 200 always on the cards. But in the recent time, it has turned into a slow and mucky affair, visible from how the games have panned out. In the last five clashes, in only one encounter has the team gone past the 150-run mark.

The average batting score at the venue in the tournament has been 144, with the pacers having a slight advantage over the spinners. 63 wickets have been picked up by the pacers, with an average of 20.5 while the spinners have picked up 51 wickets averaging 27. But the dying nature of the pitch, and slowing down of conditions could prompt to pick more spinners.

Suggested TeamsWhile you could go for the above team, you can also choose your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.

Captaincy Suggestions

For Small league: Sophie Ecclestone (c), Nat Sciver-Brunt (vc)

For Grand leagues: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Tahlia McGrath (vc)

Stats that matter

-    Even though she has dropped form, Hayley Matthews is still Mumbai’s best batter in the competition, with 232 runs, with a strike-rate of 131 in the competition, averaging 33.14. But she has in the past struggled massively against the left-arm spin of Sophie Ecclestone.

-    Ecclestone has picked up 14 wickets, with an average of 14, and an economy of 6.2, and she till date is the best bowler of the competition.  

-    It is a battle of two of the best bowling units in the competition, with Mumbai Indians women having picked up the most wickets (59) followed by UP Warriorz, who have picked up 48 wickets. Will be interesting to see who will turn up better on the night. 

-    After starting out as a batter-friendly wicket, the conditions at the DY Patil Stadium has taken a nosedive. No more do we see games with a 200-plus score, with the average score for the teams batting first being 144. 

Grand League punts

-    Harmanpreet Kaur isn’t the most fearsome striker during the first ten-ball stay at the crease, but has only been dismissed once in that ball-range. Post that, the right-hander has a strike-rate of 164, which only increases to 202.63. In the seven innings, Harman has scored her runs with an average of 46, and a strike-rate of 149.3. Her explosive nature is what makes her a grand league pick. 

-    Tahlia McGrath after a duck in the initial outing of the Women’s Premier League has made a fine comeback. In seven innings, the right-hander has scored 295 runs, averaging a high 59, with an average of 85 against spin. In fact, only two spinners have dismissed her this season – Saika Ishaque and Amelia Kerr. 

Top Criclytics Projections

Probable XIs

Mumbai XI: Yastika Bhatia (wk), Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Amelia Kerr, Isabelle Wong, Pooja Vastrakar, Humaira Kazi, Amanjot Kaur, Jintimani Kalita, Saika Ishaque

UP Warriorz XI: Alyssa Healy (Captain and wk), Devika Vaidya, Tahlia McGrath, Kiran Navgire, Deepti Sharma, Simran Shaikh, Grace Harris, Sophie Ecclestone, Rajeshwari Gaikwad, Anjali Sarvani, Parshvi Chopra