Captain Smriti Mandhana (80 off 50 balls) and star all-rounder Ellyse Perry (58 off 37 balls) propelled Royal Challengers Bangalore to a formidable 198/3 against UP Warriorz in their Women’s Premier League clash at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on Monday.

Looking to get out of a two-match losing streak, RCB promoted S Meghana up the order as opener in place of Sophie Devine.

The move paid off to an extent as Meghana (28) lent good support to skipper Mandhana in their 51-run opening partnership.

Following Meghana’s dismissal, Mandhana, in the company of Perry, added 95 off just 64 balls for the second wicket to optimise that start as the UP bowlers wilted under the cosh.

Mandhana’s timing was immaculate as she played shots all around the park and treated the rival spinners with disdain.

Dropped on 28, she was particularly severe on off-spinner Chamari Athapathuthu and left-arm pacer Anjali Sarvani, who was carted for a slew of fours and sixes. But the slog-sweep of offie Deepti Sharma landed in the hands of Poonam Khemnar at deep mid-wicket to bring about Mandhana’s dismissal.

However, Perry, who smashed left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad for two successive sixes, and Richa Ghosh (21 not out) added 42 runs off 18 balls for the third wicket which helped RCB ease past 180.

Among the Warriorz bowlers, only Deepti (1/30 in 4 overs) and left-arm orthodox Sophie Ecclestone (1/22 in 4 overs) could finish with decent figures.

The Warriorz will be missing Vrinda Dinesh as she is ruled out of the remainder of the WPL after suffering a shoulder injury during the game against Mumbai Indians back on February 28.

The UP side has signed wicket-keeper batter Uma Chetry as a replacement at her base price of Rs 10 lakh.

Uma recently played for India Women ‘A’ against their England counterparts.

Brief scores: RCB Women 198/3 (S. Mandhana 80, E. Perry 58) vs UP Warriorz. At innings break.