WPL 2024, Match 9: Royal Challengers Bangalore Women vs Mumbai Indians Women, Ninth Match - Who Said What?

Mumbai Indians Women returned on the winning track in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023 as they beat Royal Challengers Bangalore Women (RCB-W) in Match 9 on Friday, March 02 at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. After being put in to bat first, RCB could only score 131/6 in their allotted 20 overs with Ellyse Perry top scoring with 44* (38). In reply, MI chased down the target in 15.1 overs winning the match by seven wickets.

The defending champions once again got off to a great start with openers Yastika Bhatia (31 off 15) and Hayley Matthews (26 off 21) adding 45 runs for the first wicket off 23 balls. Following their dismissals, Amelia Kerr (40* off 24) and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt (27 off 25) brought their side on the verge of a win with their 49-run stand with Kerr eventually finishing the game.

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Earlier in the day, RCB lost their captain Smriti Mandhana (9 off 11) cheaply as she holed out to point. The hosts further lost two more wickets inside the powerplay in the form of Sabbhineni Meghana (11 off 12), and Sophie Devine (9 off 10) to be at 33/3 after 5.4 overs.

Richa Ghosh (7 off 10) and Sophie Molineux (12 off 14) also departed cheaply leaving their team on 71/5 after 12.1 overs. Seeing their team in trouble, Ellyse Perry (44* off 38) and Georgia Wareham (27 off 20) got involved in a crucial 52-run stand off 40 balls to take RCB to 131/6 in 20 overs. Nat Sciver Brunt (2/27) and Pooja Vastrakar (2/14) picked two wickets each for MI.

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

Losing Captain, Smriti Mandhana, Royal Challengers Bangalore, said:

I think we didn't really get the start we wanted, and that (losing 4 wickets early) really cost us the game. It was the same wicket we played against Delhi Capitals, we thought 165 was a good total, it wasn't as good as it was in the last game, but still a good wicket to bat on. Batting first it's holding a little bit, we tried but couldn't adjust to the wicket, hopefully we will learn the lessons and come back strong. Having a good start and carrying the momentum is really important in T20 cricket. Also really important to attack the stumps. She (Perry) is definitely a fighter, she wasn't 100 percent today, but anyone watching wouldn't have figured that out. She is an excellent athlete and her innings really helped us get to a decent score from that stage (42/4).

Winning Captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Mumbai Indians, said: 

Player of the Match, Amelia Kerr, Mumbai Indians, said:

It was really pleasing today. It was a pretty complete performance. I love batting, different coaches and they all helped me with the batting and they keep telling me to believe in myself. Tough to bowl the last over somtimes, I was just trying to bowl good balls, and bowl according to the field. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't come off.