Smriti Mandhana (80, 50b, 10×4, 3×6) instilled trophy hopes within the trustworthy supporters with an astonishing knock that helped the Royal Challengers Bangalore end the house leg on a excessive.
On Monday night time, after posting Ladies’s Premier League (WPL) 2024’s highest whole of 198 for 3, RCB handed UP Warriorz a 23-run loss on the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium right here.
In reply, UPW openers Alyssa Healy and Kiran Navgire scored 46 within the first 4 overs earlier than the latter miscued a lofted shot and was caught by Georgia Wareham off Sophie Devine. Sophie Molineux then trapped Chamari Athapaththu to provide RCB the second wicket in a contentious DRS overview.
Quickly, Devine despatched Grace Harris packing, and the Warriorz chase appeared derailed; however Healy’s grit remained a final hurdle for RCB.
It was Molineux who obtained Healy stumped on 55 earlier than Deepti Sharma and Poonam Khemnar added 41 for the sixth wicket.
Warriorz’ choice to chase ultimately backfired after it solely managed 175 for eight.
Earlier, the league witnessed its first Indian opening duo with S. Meghana pairing up with Mandhana, with out-of-form Devine demoted down the order.
Meghana took full benefit of the chance and struck 5 boundaries throughout her quickfire 28 off 21. When Anjali Saravi dismissed her, RCB had already gone previous fifty contained in the PowerPlay.
Mandhana pulled out scoops and cuts from her arsenal, absolutely utilising the behind-square boundaries. Her shot choice and impeccable timing shocked the Warriorz as she reached a half-century within the thirteenth over.
As if nothing else might cease Mandhana tonight, the 2 dropped catches solely made issues worse for UPW. Deepti lastly broke her 95-run stand with Ellyse Perry (58, 37b, 4×4, 4×6) after she holed out to Khemnar.
Perry held centre stage as soon as Mandhana departed. Her blazing knock ensured the decibel ranges at all times remained excessive.