Mumbai Indians 159 for 1 (Matthews 77*, Sciver-Brunt 55*) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 155 (Ghosh 28, Matthews 3-28, Ishaque 2-26) by 9 wickets
It was Hayley’s storm here at Brabourne Stadium. West Indian Hayley Matthews punishes RCB with her all-around abilities to their second consecutive defeat of Women’s Premier League inaugural season.
Hayley Matthews’s explosive batting of 77 off 38 balls, including 13 fours and 1 six, and Nat Sciver-Brunt’s fabulous half-century, sealed the dominating win for Mumbai Indians within 14.2 overs. MI is at the top of the points table with two wins in as many games and an impressive net run rate of +5.185.
Mumbai vs Banglore was the most awaited game of the WPL because of the history both franchises share in the Indian Premier League. It was said to be the marquee clash of the WPL. Star-studded, both teams faced each other at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium on
7th of March. But for so much excitement, it was a pretty one-sided affair at the end as Mumbai chased down Bangalore’s below-par total of 155 inside 15 overs and nine wickets in hand.
RCB Skipper Smriti Mandhana won the toss and chose to bat. A strong breeze was flowing across the ground; Mumbai looked to exploit that with an early breakthrough. But RCB had a flying start, and they were at 35 in the first three overs.
Saika Ishaque gave a double breakthrough in the fifth over; she trapped dangerous Devine at deep mid-wicket. In the same over, she cleaned up Disha Kasat. In the next over, Smirti falls to Matthews while trying to play an inside-out shot to the off-spinner. Heather Knight goes for the golden duck on the very next delivery. RCB was reduced to 43/4 from 39-0.
Ellyse Perry and Richa Ghosh tried to stitch some partnership; Richa also survived the close call of caught behind, ultra edge refused to show any spike. But the pair soon had a horrible mixup, and Perry, who was looking for big (13 off 7), had to walk. However, the lower middle-order contributions of Kanika Ahuja (22), Shreyanka Patil (23), and Megan Schutt (20) helped RCB reach a respectable total of 155 runs. Matthews was the pick of the bowlers with impressive (3 for 28) for the off-spinner.
Hayley Matthews & Nat Sciver-Brunt punished RCB
Mumbai’s opening combination of Hayley Matthews and Yastika Bhatia started the chase with a bang; they scored 45 quick runs inside five overs. Preeti Bose ends Yastika’s quickfire cameo in the fifth over. After Yastika’s fall, Matthews took charge in her hands; she kept scoring at the strike rate of 180, she was well supported at the other end by Nat Sciver-Brunt. Mathews completed her fifty in just 26 inside 10 overs. MI was at 95-1 at the end of 10 overs.
After completing her half-century, Matthews stepped on the accelerator. She scored the next 27 runs in just 12 balls. Sciver-Brunt also kept the momentum at the other end. They both completely thrashed the RCB’s star-studded bowling lineup, including Ellyse Perry, Sophie Devine, Megan Schutt, and Renuka Thakur Singh. Their unbeaten partnership of 115 runs helps Mumbai in winning their second match of the season.
WPL’s inaugural season had a flying start with some thrilling encounters for the fans; Delhi Capitals will face UP Warriorz in the 5th match of the WPL season at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, on March 7.
