We tried. A decent total with the bat. A good comeback with the ball. But it wasn’t our night. Credit where it is due, the UP Warriorz executed a brilliant chase. We tried different combinations, different tactics, different lengths, but Harleen Deol was in some form, timing it perfectly and finding gaps with ease in the chase.

There were plenty of positives for us to take out though

Amanjot continues to revel in top-order role 

Opening the innings this time around, up one position from batting at number three in the previous game, Amanjot Kaur, continued to pile on the runs. Seven fours in her 33-ball 38, and she set the tone up top.

Nat and Nic, consistency x2

Nat Sciver-Brunt: 65 runs | 43 balls | 9 fours | 1 six

Nicola Carey: 32 runs | 20 balls | 5 fours

They’ve been as consistent as consistent can get. After the openers fell and Kaptaan Kaur fell for a quick 11-ball 16, it was this English-Aussie pair that lifted MI to a strong 161/5 in their 20 overs.

That was with the bat. Now consistency x2 with the ball. Nat’s twin strikes in the seventh over, getting both Meg Lanning and Kiran Navgire, brought MI right back in the game. Carey started off superbly with the ball as well, conceding just one run in her first over.

But when Harleen and Pheobe Litchfield got together and the dew set in, it wasn’t to be for us. “I felt 180 or something which we were looking for because we knew batting first is not easy on this track. But I think we did recently well in the powerplay. We didn't lose the wicket, but unfortunately, runs were not enough on the board, but later on, I think Nat and Nic put us on a better situation. But I think credit goes to Harleen for the way she batted today,” said skipper Harman.

Fikar not, Paltan. We have a chance to make this right in less than 48 hours. Both these sides will meet again in a Saturday (January 17) afternoon clash, with an opportunity for us to firmly put this behind us.