WPL 2026: Richa Ghosh’s fightback in vain as Nat Sciver-Brunt leads Mumbai Indians to 15-run win against RCB

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) suffered their second straight defeat after winning their first four matches, as the Mumbai Indians edged them out by 15 runs in a high-scoring Women’s Premier League clash at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

Mumbai Indians batting

Batting first, the Mumbai Indians posted a mammoth total of 199 for four. The star of the innings was Nat Sciver-Brunt, who created history by becoming the first player to score a century in the WPL. She remained unbeaten on 100 from 57 balls, striking 16 fours and one six in a brilliant knock that set up Mumbai’s victory.

Sciver-Brunt shared a crucial 131-run partnership for the second wicket with Hayley Matthews, who scored a fluent 56 off 39 balls, including nine boundaries. After an early wicket, the pair built the innings patiently before accelerating in the later overs.

Lauren Bell provided RCB with an early breakthrough by dismissing Sajeevan Sajana for seven. She later removed Matthews as well, finishing with figures of two for 21. Mumbai captain Harmanpreet Kaur chipped in with 20 runs, while the lower order added a few quick runs at the end to push the total close to 200.

RCB failed to get a good start in the chase

RCB’s chase got off to a shaky start. Their top five batters managed just 31 runs, leaving the team under huge pressure. Grace Harris was dismissed for 15 by Shabnim Ismail, while Smriti Mandhana fell for six to Hayley Matthews. The early collapse made the task extremely difficult.

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Richa Ghosh tried to shift the momentum of the game

Despite the setbacks, Richa Ghosh played a sensational innings to keep RCB in the hunt. The wicketkeeper-batter scored a fighting 90 off 50 balls, hitting 10 fours and six sixes. She found some support from Nadine de Klerk, who scored 28, but the required run rate kept climbing.

After 18 overs, RCB needed 63 runs from 13 balls. Richa then produced a stunning assault in the 19th over, smashing three consecutive sixes off Amanjot Kaur. Shreyanka Patil followed it up with two boundaries, making it a 27-run over and giving RCB a late lifeline.

However, the task was still too steep. RCB needed 32 runs from the final over. Richa continued to fight, hitting a four and two sixes, but in the end, Mumbai held their nerve to seal a 15-run win.

For Mumbai, Hayley Matthews was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Amelia Kerr and Shabnim Ismail picked up two wickets each. This win helped the Mumbai Indians end their three-match losing streak and register their third victory of the season.