The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched a crucial 11-run victory over the Mumbai Indians (MI) in a high-intensity Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 match at Brabourne Stadium. RCB’s solid batting display, powered by Smriti Mandhana and Ellyse Perry, helped them set a daunting total of 199 for 3. MI, in response, fell short despite a valiant effort from Nat Sciver-Brunt, finishing at 188 for 9.
Match Summary
| Team | Score | Key Performers |
|---|---|---|
| RCB | 199/3 | Mandhana 53, Perry 49*, Ghosh 36 |
| MI | 188/9 | Sciver-Brunt 69, Rana 3-26 |
RCB’s Aggressive Start
With nothing to lose in the tournament, RCB started with an aggressive approach, taking on MI’s top bowlers. S Meghana and Smriti Mandhana launched a power-hitting display early on, with Meghana smashing boundaries off Nat Sciver-Brunt and Shabnim Ismail. Mandhana played a captain’s knock, scoring 53 off 37 balls, including six fours and three sixes.
Powerplay Highlights:
- RCB finished the powerplay at 53/1.
- Meghana fell for 26 off 13, but Mandhana continued the assault.
MI’s Fielding Errors Prove Costly
Mumbai Indians’ fielding was below par, with crucial dropped catches proving decisive. Amelia Kerr dropped Ellyse Perry on 16, and Sanskriti Gupta missed a straightforward chance off Mandhana when she was on 52. These missed opportunities allowed RCB to pile on the runs.
Key Moments:
- Perry made MI pay with a 49-run knock*.
- Richa Ghosh (36 off 22) and Georgia Wareham (31* off 10) played quickfire cameos to push RCB to a massive 199.
Sciver-Brunt’s Lone Battle for MI
Chasing 200, MI suffered early setbacks as Kerr and Hayley Matthews fell cheaply. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur tried to stabilize the innings, but she was deceived by Kim Garth’s clever bowling.
Sciver-Brunt played a stunning knock, smashing 69 off 35 balls, bringing MI back into contention. However, once she departed in the 15th over, MI had 71 runs to chase in the last 31 balls, which proved too steep a task.
Batting Collapse:
- MI’s top and middle order struggled against RCB’s disciplined bowling.
- Sneh Rana (3 for 26) applied the brakes at crucial moments.
Sajana’s Late Fireworks Not Enough
Despite a spirited effort from S Sajana (23 off 12 balls) at the end, MI couldn’t bridge the gap. With 24 required off 5 balls, Sajana hit two big sixes but eventually miscued one, leading to MI’s downfall.
Bowling Performance Comparison
| Bowler | Team | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
| Sneh Rana | RCB | 4 | 26 | 3 |
| Kim Garth | RCB | 4 | 29 | 1 |
| Nat Sciver-Brunt | MI | 4 | 36 | 1 |
| Hayley Matthews | MI | 4 | 37 | 2 |
Turning Point
The match turned decisively when:
- Sciver-Brunt fell at a crucial stage, halting MI’s momentum.
- MI’s fielding lapses allowed RCB to reach an imposing total.
Final Verdict
RCB’s victory showcased the importance of aggressive batting and solid fielding. MI’s lack of support for Sciver-Brunt in the chase ultimately led to their defeat. With this win, RCB moved off the bottom of the table, keeping their campaign alive.
