WPL 2024, Match 2: Royal Challengers Bangalore Women vs UP Warriorz Women, Second Match - Who Said What?

After a disastrous first season of the WPL, Royal Challengers Bangalore Women (RCB-W) started the second edition with a thrilling two-run victory over UP Warriorz in Match 2 on Saturday, February 24 at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. After being put in to bat first, RCB posted a challenging score of 157/6 in their allotted 20 overs. In reply, UP agonizingly fell two runs short finishing on 155/7 in their 20 overs.

The hosts didn’t get off to a good start to the innings with Sophie Devine, (1 off 5), captain Smriti Mandhana (13 off 11) and Ellyse Perry (8 off 7) returning to the pavilion cheaply. However, a 71-run stand between Sabbhineni Meghana (53 off 44) and Richa Ghosh (62 off 37) rescued RCB’s innings helping them cross 150.

Also Check: WPL 2024: BAN-W vs UP-W Match 2 Highlights

In reply, UP lost the big wicket of their captain Alyssa Healy (5 off 4) in the second over itself followed by Vrinda Dinesh (18 off 28) and Tahlia McGrath (22 off 18). Seeing their team in trouble Grace Harris (38 off 23) and Shweta Sehrawat (31 off 25) got involved in a massive 77-run stand off 46 balls to bring UP in a commanding position. 

There was more twist in the tale as after dismissing Dinesh and McGrath, Sobhana Asha (5/22) returned in the attack and picked three wickets in an over to tilt the balance in Bangalore’s favour and they eventually won the game.

Also Read: WPL 2024 following old DRS rule

Here’s what the two captains and the Player of the Match said after the game.

Losing Captain, Alyssa Healy, UP Warriorz said:

We got ourselves back in that chase and let ourselves down at the end. Full credit to Molineux and Wareham for their bowling. The differing levels of experience in each and every squad means you learn a lot. When you win you gloss over it a bit. A lot of positives to take out from the game, we were behind for most parts. That's T20 cricket, sometimes you win and sometimes you don't. We go again in two days' time. It's really cool and I have seen all the hard work they have done over the last 10 days. It has paid off and we created a lot of chances, hopefully we can maintain that. [on Dinesh] She is exciting, local girl and it's a big stage in front of a full house at the Chinnaswamy and they will learn a lot.

Winning Captain, Smriti Mandhana, BAN-W said:

Pretty nice game. Even the last match was really close. The same equation came up on the board. I was praying to all the gods and I was at cover, was just praying and the bowlers did an amazing job today. Was having a lot of faith on Sophie and the way she bowled the last over was brilliant and Asha getting 5 wickets was game-changing. [on Asha] Whenever I saw her, I saw the look in her eyes which said give me the ball. It's just her second WPL season but she is experienced domestically and good to see her perform well. At the second timeout we thought we will go past 165 which I thought was a good total. Richa and Meghana the way they batted without contributions from me, Sophie and Perry was great.

Player of the Match, Sobhana Asha (5/22) said:

A lot of struggle and a lot of hard work. I'm not thinking about my 5 wickets, we won our first game at our home ground. Very happy that I contributed to the victory and that too at Chinnaswamy. I knew the situation would be something like this and I visualised. I did a lot of homework. I saw Grace going against the turn, thought if I pull the length back and across, I might get a top-edge or bowled. I was ready to get smashed, but I was sure I would get them.