All-round performance from Hayley Matthews and fifty from Nat-Sciver Brunt helped Mumbai Indians (MI) crush Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by nine wickets in their Women’s Premier League (WPL) match at Brabourne Stadium on Monday. The win helped MI strengthen its hold at the top of the points table with two wins in two matches, with a total of four points. RCB is at the fourth position and are yet to earn a point. They have lost both of their matches so far. In chase of 156 runs, MI started really well. Openers Hayley Matthews and Yastika Bhatia put RCB out of the game before the powerplay could even end. Both batters found gaps at will and tormented the bowlers with consistent boundaries. RCB bowlers, including their pace star Renuka Singh, looked helpless in face of such an onslaught.
However, Preeti Bose put an end to the opening stand of 45 runs. She dismissed Yastika for 23 off 19 balls. MI was 45/1 in five overs.
At the end of six overs of powerplay, MI was at 64/1, with Hayley (38*) joined by Nat Sciver Brunt (3*).
RCB bowlers were left searching for answers as the arrival of Nat Sciver pushed the run rate even further. Hayley was also hitting fours nonchalantly at the other end. Hayley brought up her fifty in 26 balls, continuing her fine form in WPL and performing her role as all-rounder to perfection.
After 10 overs, MI was 95/1, with Hayley (50*) and Nat (22*) at the crease.
MI crossed the 100-run mark in 10.2 overs.
RCB bowlers continued delivering ordinary bowling to MI batters, which the latter gleefully accepted and sent to the boundary ropes or to the stands consistently.
Sciver raced to her fifty in just 28 balls and MI finished their innings at 159/1 in 14.2 overs, with Hayley scoring 77* off 38 balls, consisting of 13 fours and a six. Sciver scored 55* in 29 balls with nine fours and six.
Earlier, top-notch bowling spells from Hayley Matthews, Saika Ishaque and Amelia Kerr helped Mumbai Indians skittle out Royal Challengers Bangalore for just 155 runs in 18.4 overs of their Women’s Premier League (WPL) tie at Brabourne Stadium on Monday. After electing to bat first, RCB was off to a solid start, with openers Smriti Mandhana and Sophie Devine dealing in boundaries and rotating the strike well.
Saika Ishaque continued her red-hot form from her previous match against Gujarat Giants, putting the RCB on the backfoot by dismissing Devine (16) and Disha Kasat (0) in one over.
