The Mumbai Indians have had an incredible start to the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2023 season. After thrashing Gujarat Giants in the season opener, the team faced Royal Challengers Bangalore who had struggled in their first match of the season.
Mumbai Indians defeated RCB in the end with ease, winning by a margin of nine wickets. MI currently leads the points table with four points after winning both of its games.
Star-studded lineup like Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, Sophie Devine and Heather Knight are unable to provide strong performances with the bat for RCB . In both of the games they have played this season, the squad has seen a batting collapse.
After captain Harmanpreet Kaur's brilliant performance in the first game, all-rounder Hayley Matthews performed for her team this time. She scored an unbeaten 77 runs off just 38 deliveries. She also delivered with the ball, striking RCB's batting order three times and crippling it.
Batting first, RCB were bowled out for 155 in 18.4 overs, with Richa Ghosh top-scoring with a knock of 28 runs off 26 balls, packed with three fours and a six. Matthews was in good bowling form for Mumbai and took three wickets. Meanwhile, Saika Ishaque took two wickets to lead the Purple Cap race, and Amelia Kerr also bagged two dismissals.
Chasing a target of 156 runs, opener Hayley Matthews smacked an unbeaten half-century, slamming 77 runs off 38 balls, including 13 fours and a six, as MI raced to 159/1 in 14.2 overs. Meanwhile Nat Sciver-Brunt also bagged a half-century, hitting 55 runs off 29 balls, packed with nine fours and a six. In a poor outing for RCB bowlers, Preeti Bose took a wicket.
Brief Scores: RCB 155 in 18.4 overs (Ghosh 28; Matthews 3-28) lost to MI 159/1 in 14.2 overs (Matthews 77*, Nat Sciver-Brunt 55*) by 9 wickets.