WPL: MI lose to RCB as Capitals seal direct final berth
Mumbai, who lost by 11 runs to eliminated Royal Challengers, will face Gujarat Giants in the playoff to decide the other finalist
Mumbai: The final group stage game of this Women’s Premier League season came down to two teams with contrasting fortunes. Mumbai Indians were already guaranteed a spot in the playoffs but were eying a direct berth in the final. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the defending champions who have had a forgetful season, had nothing but pride to play for.
In a match played between two teams filled with star names at the Brabourne Stadium on Tuesday night, Smriti Mandhana stood out for her batting and captaincy, as she led RCB to a 11-run win. The result gave Delhi Capitals a direct spot in the final, on super net run rate than Mumbai Indians after both teams finished with 10 points. MI will face Gujarat Giants in the playoff.
Mandhana stood tall as she opened the RCB innings, taking a few deliveries to soak in the nature of the pitch. Once settled, she started playing elegant yet aggressive shots that raced to the fence – including one massive heave over the bowler for six.
The 28-year-old has been struggling for form this term. But she managed to put in an important knock in her team’s final outing this season. A solid 53 off 37 balls (6x4, 3x6) set the tone for the RCB innings. After her dismissal, Ellyse Perry (49* off 38 balls) and Richa Ghosh (36 off 22) continued the heavy hitting before Georgia Wareham’s quickfire 31 off 10 helped RCB finish on 199/3.
A hefty target on the board was one thing, but Mandhana needed to get her bowling changes right. She managed to do just that.
With Hayley Matthews looking particularly menacing in the opening exchanges – the West Indies player hammered four boundaries in her 19 off 16 – Mandhana brought in Sneh Rana on as early as the fourth over.
The change worked well as the spinner had Matthews caught at square leg with her third delivery. Two overs later, Rana got the better of Amelia Kerr as well as Mumbai lost both openers.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt and Mumbai captain Harmanpreet Kaur started to steady the ship. But another change in bowling did the trick for RCB. Kim Garth was brought back into the attack and Kaur was caught behind on the first ball of the 11th over. Another change of bowling in the 15th over and Sciver-Brunt – she scored 69 off 35 – was dismissed by Perry.
The scoreboard pressure compounded as Mumbai lost regular wickets thereon.
RCB did manage to end their campaign with a win, but former champions Mumbai are still in a position to win the title – only, they will now have to do it the hard way.
