Smriti Mandhana-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) ended their maiden Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023 campaign with a comprehensive four-wicket loss at the hands of Hamranpreet Kaur-led Mumbai Indians (MI). New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr starred with both bat and ball to help MI get back to the winning ways and regain the top spot with their sixth win of the season.
Harmanpreet won the toss and opted to field first. Sophie Devine who stunned in previous game with a 99-run knock got run out after miscommunication with Mandhana. Devine got out for a two-ball duck in the first over. Mandhana hit a few boundaries. In the fifth over she hit Sciver-Brunt for a six and a four. But Ellyse Perry took her time to settle and RCB had 32 runs on the board after powerplay overs. Mandhana could not take advantage of a decent start. Amelia Kerr in her first over deceived Mandhana with a slower and shorter delivery outside off. Mandhana went for the big shot but got caught by Yastika Bhatia few steps away from her guard.
Perry accelerated in the 10th over with a couple of boundaries. At halfway stage, RCB were 56/2. Heather Knight did not last long in the middle. Kerr struck again in her second over to dismiss the English batter. In the 15th over, Kiwi leggie was brought back into the attack again and she delivered with the wicket of Kanika Ahuja who got stumped. In the 16th over, Richa Ghosh gave the score a much-needed boost. She hit Issy Wong for a four and a six.
In the 17th over, Sciver-Brunt struck twice. First, Perry got out lbw after scoring 29 off 38 deliveries. Then Shreyanka Patil hit a boundary and got bowled. Ghosh continued the onslaught and hit Ishaque for a six. But Megan Schutt was trapped in front of the wickets by the left-arm spinner. Ghosh hit two more boundaries in penultimate over. In the last over, the wicketkeeper-batter got dismissed by Wong. She contributed with a 13-ball 29 cameo which included three fours and a couple of sixes. No boundaries were scored off the last over. Wong got Disha Kasat's wicket off the last of the innings as RCB managed to post 125/9.
MI's run chase got off to a flyer. Devine bowled two no balls in her first over and was punished by Hayley Matthews. Bhatia hit as many as six fours during fielding restrictions. The opening partnership was broken by Patil as she went for the big shot but got caught inside the circle. The opener scored 30 runs off 26 balls. In the eighth over, Schutt came back into the attack and got Matthews' wicket. The Caribbean batter scored 24 off 17 balls. Sciver-Brunt (13) had a short stay at the crease. Asha Shobana got her wicket as the English batter edged it to Ghosh. Another wicket fell in the next over. Perry deceived skipper Harmanpreet who dragged the ball on to her stumps.
Kerr and Pooja Vastrakar brought the run chase back on track. Vastrakar scored 19 off 18 deliveries before she got out to Ahuja. The spinner got Wong for a golden duck off next delivery. In the 17th over, Mandhana decided to bowl. She hit a boundary and Mandhana bowled five wides to finish the game. Kerr remained unbeaten for 31 off 27 deliveries.
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