WPL: Mumbai outclass Bangalore to grab the top spot

Royal Challengers Bangalore suffered their second consecutive defeat in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) as Mumbai Indians outclassed them en route to winning the one-sided encounter by seven wickets with 29 balls to spare at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, the Mumbai bowlers dismissed the top three batters of the Bangalore line-up – Smriti Mandhana, Sophie Devine, and Sabbhineni Meghana inside the powerplay. Richa Ghosh departed in the ninth over as the Royal Challengers were reeling at 42/4.

Ellyse Perry and Sophie Molineux tried to string in a partnership to resurrect the innings. They added 29 runs off 23 balls before Molineux was castled by Pooja Vastrakar. Georgia Wareham joined Perry and they stitched a much-needed 52-run stand off 40 balls. Wareham departed in the 19th over for a 20-ball 27. Her compatriot remained unbeaten on 44 off 38 balls as the Royal Challengers finished on 131/6 in their 20 overs.

Yastika Bhatia was in a hurry to finish things off as she smashed 31 runs off just 15 balls and dented whatever hopes Bangalore had of pulling off their first win against Mumbai. Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt got out for 26 and 27 respectively, but Amelia Kerr remained not out on 40 off just 24 balls and took her team to victory alongside Vastrakar.

Top Performers of the Match

Yastika Bhatia (31 off 15 balls)

The left-handed batter took the attack to the Gujarat bowlers from the get-go. Her blitzkrieg helped Mumbai amass 45 runs inside the first four overs and bring the required rate below six runs per over. She hit four fours and two sixes during her swashbuckling innings and took whatever pressure there was off the Mumbai batting line-up.

Pooja Vastrakar (2/14, 3 overs)

The talented all-rounder was introduced in the ninth over and she responded immediately by dismissing the dangerous Richa Ghosh. She was taken off the attack and re-introduced in the 13th over and she got the better of Molineux. Vastrakar eventually finished with figures of 2/14 in her three overs.

What’s next?

Royal Challengers Bangalore will take on UP Warriorz in their next game on Monday, March 4, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians will collide with Delhi Capitals on Monday, March 5, at the same venue.