Hayley Matthews’ all-round showing earned Mumbai Indians their second straight win in the inaugural Women’s Premier League. At the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Monday, the West Indies T20I captain shone with the ball (3/28) and then hit an unbeaten 77 off just 38 balls as Mumbai Indians thrashed Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by nine wickets.
RCB, on the other hand, suffered back-to-back defeats. In their tournament opener on Sunday, they were outplayed by Delhi Capitals, who beat them by 60 runs.
If RCB were batted out of the game by the Capitals after being set a huge 224-run target, it was a case of average showing with the bat by the franchise on this occasion. While none of their batters could convert their starts, the Mumbai bowlers, too, produced a tidy, disciplined effort again, restricting RCB to 155.
Thereafter, Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt (59 not out off 29 balls) caned the RCB bowlers, stitching together an unbroken 114-run stand in just 9.2 overs which helped Mumbai seal the game with 34 balls remaining.
Earlier, Matthews, who began the proceedings with her off-spin after RCB won the toss and opted to bat, finished with the best figures among Mumbai bowlers. Saika Ishaque and Amelia Kerr struck twice each as the RCB innings lasted only 18.4 overs.
Skipper Smriti Mandhana (23) and Sophie Devine took RCB off to a solid start as they were 39/0 in the fifth over. But Devine’s dismissal off Bengal left-arm spinner Ishaque sparked a collapse with RCB slipping to 43/4 in the sixth over.
Ishaque took her second wicket in the form of Disha Kasat, while Matthews picked up the key scalps of Mandhana and Heather Knight. The RCB innings was going nowhere with the dismissal of Ellyse Perry in over No.9 before Richa Ghosh (28) and Kanika Ahuja (22) tried to fight back with their 34-run stand.
Aussies in key clash
Calcutta: Meg Lanning and Alyssa Healy have created some memorable moments for Australia’s women’s team but they will clash on neutral ground when Delhi Capitals take on UP Warriorz in the WPL at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Lanning’s Delhi Capitals have won their only match but could still make some changes to their XI. Radha Yadav proved to be expensive against RCB and could be replaced by Poonam Yadav.
Healy’s UP Warriorz came back strongly against Gujarat Giants, scoring the 53 they needed in the last three overs to register a victory.
Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues have looked good for Capitals and the team will bank on them to provide the momentum again.
Today’s match
■ DC Women vs UP Warriorz Women, 7.30pm, DY Patil, live on Sports18 1
