The Harmanpreet Kaur-led Mumbai Indians Women (MI-W) beat the Smriti Mandhana-led Royal Challengers Bangalore Women (RCB-W) in the fourth match of the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL 2023) at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Monday, March 6.
RCB-W won the toss, elected to bat first in the match and they were off to a good start. However, losing wickets at regular intervals meant the Smriti Mandhana-led side were bundled out for 155 in 18.4 overs.
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5 RCB-W batters – Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Kanika Ahuja, Shreyanka Patil and Megan Schutt – scored 20 or more runs in the innings.
On the bowling side of things, Hayley Matthews bagged a three-wicket haul while Amelia Kerr and Saika Ishaque picked up two wickets each. Also, Pooja Vastrakar and Nat Sciver-Brunt chipped in with one wicket each.
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Chasing the target, MI-W openers Hayley Matthews and Yastika Bhatia batted brilliantly. After the dismissal of Yastika Bhatia, Nat Sciver-Brunt joined forces with Hayley Matthews and together they demolished the bowling unit of the Royal Challengers Bangalore Women.
Hayley Matthews smashed exceptional 77 runs off 38 balls, with 13 fours and 1 six, while Sciver-Brunt smashed brilliant 55 runs off 29 balls, with 9 fours and 1 six, to steer Mumbai Indians Women to a dominant 9-wicket victory in 14.2 overs.
We did well to restrict them to a small score – Harmanpreet Kaur
At the post-match presentation ceremony, Harmanpreet Kaur said that the bowlers did a great job of restricting RCB-W to a small total. She also spoke about the slow over-rate in T20s.
“I think batting was the same, we bowled better in the first game than today, but we did well to restrict them to a small score. We just backed ourselves to chase, everyone in the team are just happy to do it their way and they’re enjoying themselves,” Harmanpreet Kaur stated.
“It happens in T20s (on the slower over-rate), you need to give that extra minute to the bowlers,” Harmanpreet Kaur said.
Harmanpreet Kaur & Co. will next lock horns with the Meg Lanning-led Delhi Capitals Women (DEL-W) on Thursday, March 9 at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Mumbai.
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