In the fourth edition of the Women’s Premier League, Nat Sciver-Brunt (100 not out) scored the league’s maiden century as Mumbai Indians defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 15 runs on Monday in Vadodara, despite Richa Ghosh’s quickfire 90.
Defending champions Mumbai produced an almost flawless effort with the bat, amassing 199/4, in a game they had to win to stay in the running for the playoffs.
However, MI bowlers looked helpless against Richa, who hit 10 fours and six sixes to score 90 off 50 balls in her team’s 184/9, despite making early progress to leave RCB reeling at 35/5 during the Powerplay.
India all-rounder Amanjot Kaur was hit for three consecutive sixes by Richa as RCB amassed 43 runs in the final two overs.
After earlier hitting a crucial half-century, Hayley Matthews (56 and 3/10) jolted MI again, dismissing Georgia Voll (9) and captain Smriti Mandhana (6) in the fourth over and Radha Yadav (0) in the next.
After striking first to dismiss Grace Harris (15), Shabnim Ismail (2/25) picked up Gautami Naik (1) for her second wicket and assisted Matthews in dismissing Radha with a superb catch in the deep.
Mumbai moved up to second place with six points from seven games after the victory. Both the Gujarat Giants and Delhi Capitals have six points from six games apiece, but Mumbai has a higher net run rate.
Earlier, the Mumbai Indians scored 199/4 powered by England’s Sciver-Brunt (100 not out), who scored the first-ever century in the WPL. Matthews’ 56 and Sciver-Brunt’s 57-ball undefeated century set the stage for a significant total for the Mumbai Indians.
In a fast-paced partnership, Matthews and Sciver-Brunt amassed 131 runs off 73 balls for the second wicket. They not only effectively rotated the strike but also unleashed a barrage of boundaries. Sciver-Brunt hit 16 fours and one six for her unbeaten 100, while Matthews hit nine fours to reach 56 off 39 balls. The two came together when Lauren Bell (2/21) trapped Sajeevan Sajana (7) in front of the wickets early in the third over.
