MI vs RCB Highlights, WPL 2023: Matthews, Ishaque shine as Mumbai Indians destroy Royal Challengers Bangalore

A full delivery by Matthews, on middle. Devine sweeps it with much aplomb, goes flying for a flat six towards legside!

11 off the first over for RCB!

A short length delivery by Matthews, and Mandhana goes down the track to hammer it through extra cover for a four!

Matthews tosses it up, and it drifts in. Mandhana taps it to cover. No run.

Mandhana and Devine to open for RCB. Matthews to bowl the first over for MI.

Mumbai Indians: Yastika Bhatia(w), Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Amelia Kerr, Pooja Vastrakar, Issy Wong, Amanjot Kaur, Humaira Kazi, Jintimani Kalita, Saika Ishaque

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Smriti Mandhana(c), Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry, Disha Kasat, Richa Ghosh(w), Heather Knight, Kanika Ahuja, Megan Schutt, Shreyanka Patil, Preeti Bose, Renuka Thakur Singh

After toss, Mandhana said, "We would like to bat first. It is looks like a good wicket to bat on and chasing builds pressure. We had a chat in the meeting that thinking about totals would not help, we have to play to our strengths and we will get the big total. One of the top four bat deep and if we can do that then we will post good totals. One change for us."

Meanwhile, Harmanpreet stated, "Smriti is little luckier than me (with the toss). We wanted to bowl first and we got that. We have the confidence in our bowling unit and that's why we wanted to bowl today. We are going with the same XI."

RCB captain Mandhana wins toss, opts to bat vs MI.

Matthews vs Renuka will be a key battle tonight. The West Indies all-rounder smacked 47 off 31 balls vs GG and will be in good form. But against Renuka, she has only managed to muster 15 runs off 18 balls and has also been dismissed once.

Currently, except for GG, all other franchises have played a game each. GG have played two matches already. MI are currently on top, followed by DC in second position. UPW are third, followed by RCB in fourth. GG are bottom of the standings.

Harmanpreet was in hot form during MI's thumping win vs GG in the season opener, clinching victory by 143 runs. Harmanpreet hammered 65 runs off 30 balls, clobbering 14 fours as MI posted 207/5 in 20 overs. Chasing a target of 208, GG were bowled out for 64 in 15.1 overs.

Speaking ahead of the encounter, RCB's Knight said, "Obviously it (Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers) is a huge rivalry in the men's game. They have set a brilliant win in their first game; they are a dangerous side."

The Aussie all-rounder will be a crucial cog in Mandhana's tactical plans. Against DC, Perry registered 31 runs off 19 balls, packed with five fours. Also, she bowled three overs, conceding 29 runs, without any wicket.

After RCB's defeat in their opener vs DC, Mandhana said, "We gave away too many runs, around 20-30 runs too many. As a pace bowling unit, we didn't go about badly, that's something we'll take away from this game. We have back-to-back games, we'll have to take away some positives from the game before coming back tomorrow. We got plenty of starts, but couldn't continue and play a big innings. The wicket didn't change a lot, just needed someone to take it till the 20th over."

Ahead of the match, Harmanpreet said, "I am someone who thinks a lot; my mind is continuously [processing], giving thoughts and ideas to me. I think when I am more calm and in the moment it gives me a lot of clarity (as to) what I have to do... Just stay in the present and keep backing myself."

Mumbai Indians: Yastika Bhatia(w), Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Amelia Kerr, Pooja Vastrakar, Issy Wong, Amanjot Kaur, Humaira Kazi, Jintimani Kalita, Saika Ishaque, Heather Graham, Chloe Tryon, Sonam Yadav, Neelam Bisht, Priyanka Bala, Dhara Gujjar

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Smriti Mandhana(c), Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry, Disha Kasat, Richa Ghosh(w), Heather Knight, Kanika Ahuja, Asha Shobana, Megan Schutt, Preeti Bose, Renuka Thakur Singh, Dane van Niekerk, Indrani Roy, Erin Burns, Poonam Khemnar, Sahana Pawar, Shreyanka Patil, Komal Zanzad

Hello and good evening everyone! Welcome to our live coverage of today's WPL 2023 match between MI and RCB, straight from the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.