Harmanpreet Kaur said that "Smriti is little luckier than me (with the toss)" but it was not the case with the outcome of the match. Hayley Matthews’ all-round display helped Mumbai Indians register a comfortable nine-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and continue their winning run in the inaugural season of Women Premier League (WPL). It looks like all other franchises missed out on a good pick as Matthews was not picked in the initial round of the auction.
Mumbai Indians' run chase got off to a brilliant start. Yastika Bhatia who struggled in the tournament opener contributed in a 19-ball 23 in the 45-run opening partnership. Matthews was all over the RCB bowling attack and helped her side post 54 runs in the powerplay overs. Nat Sciver-Brunt broke free in the eighth over with three boundaries. The onslaught continued and Matthews got to her second half-century on the trot from 26 deliveries in the 10th over.
The boundaries kept coming and Mumbai Indians made short work of the run chase as they got over the line with 34 balls to spare. Matthews remained unbeaten for 77 off 38 deliveries including 13 fours and one six. On the other end, Sciver-Brunt scored 55 runs from 29 deliveries including nine fours and one six. Only Preeti Bose managed to take a wicket whereas other RCB bowlers struggled.
Earlier, Mandhana won the toss and opted to bat first. RCB opener scored quickly in powerplay overs. Saika Ishaque got the breakthrough with the wicket of Sophie Devine (16) in the fifth over. She followed it up with the wicket of Disha Kasat for a two-ball duck. In the next over, Matthews struck twice to get rid of Mandhana (23) and Heather Knight (0) off consecutive deliveries. RCB were 47/4 after powerplay overs.
Ellyse Perry and Richa Ghosh tried to get the innings back on track but the Australian all-rounder got run out after scoring 13 off just seven deliveries. Kanika Ahuja tried to give the much-needed boost to the scoring rate. She hit three boundaries and one six in her 13-ball 22 before losing her wicket to Pooja Vastrakar. Ghosh followed her back to the dressing room in the 14th over as Matthews struck again. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 28 runs from 26 deliveries including three fours and one six.
In the slog overs Shreyanka Patil (23) and Megan Schutt's (20) cameos helped RCB cross the 150-run mark. Patil got out in the 17th over to Sciver-Brunt whereas Amelia Kerr struck twice in the penultimate over to restrict RCB to 155.
“We could have learnt to put down a better score. We have to accept this defeat and come back better. 2-3 batters got into 20s but could not make it count including myself. We do have a good bowling side, we have 6-7 bowling options and we can't say much to the bowlers when the batters are not putting up the runs. It is a pretty short tournament and we can't dwell on it, even in franchise cricket if you start winning then you can go on a run,” Mandhana said after yet another comprehensive loss in WPL.
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