WPL 2023: All-round Hayley Matthews Powers Mumbai Indians to 9-wicket Win over RCB

Hayley Mathews starred with bat and ball to guide Mumbai Indians to a 9-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in the fourth match of the Women’s Premier League at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Monday.

Mathews scored 77 not out from just 38 balls and was ably supported by Nat Sciver-Brunt.

Yastika Bhatia also began to middle the ball with authority when the keeper-batsman was caught in front of the wicket by Priti Bose for 23 off 19 balls.

Sciver-Brunt also hit a half-century as she ended with a 29-ball 55 as MI reached their target with 34 balls to spare.

WPL 2023: MI vs RCB – highlight

Earlier, Mathews took three wickets with his off-spin to lead an impressive bowling performance for Mumbai Indians as they bundled out Royal Challengers Bangalore for 155.

The flight to Bangalore started as soon as we reached 39/0. But Hayley and Sayka Ishak’s double strike meant they were reduced to 43/4. Kanika Ahuja, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil and Megan Schutt took Bengaluru past 150.

For Mumbai, Healy was the standout bowler with 3-28, while Saika and Amelia Kerr took two wickets each as the spinners combined for seven wickets. Bangalore captain Smriti Mandhana started by dancing down the pitch to punch Healey through extra cover for a boundary. Her opening partner Sophie Devine ended the opening over with a slog-sweep for a six.

Smriti was at her best – pulling Nat Sciver-Brunt with ease, before parrying Issy Wong with a superb drive and getting an outside edge to hit three fours. From the other end, Sophie managed to hit two fours off Saika’s bowling, although there was a good fight between the two.

Eventually, Sayka got the last laugh when Sophie went straight to midwicket in the fifth over. Two balls later, he lofted a slower one in the air to hit Disha Cassatt at middle stump.

In the very next over, Healey deepened Bangalore’s woes as Smriti drove down the pitch to loft through the line but slipped to backward point. The very next ball, Healy took some turn to cross Heather Knight and crashed into the stumps.

Ellyse Perry smashed Amelia over her head down the ground while Richa hit two fours and a six to inject some momentum into the Bangalore innings. Although Richa survived a caught behind appeal from Nat Sciver-Brunt despite a clear deflection, inconclusive running between the wickets meant a run-out scare.

But they were not third time lucky as Ellyse was out of his crease in the ninth over with a direct hit from short third man. Kanika mesmerized the crowd with the sweep and swiped Amelia for four and six respectively.

She welcomed Jintimani Kalita with two fours in the 13th over before taking a leading edge on a cross-bat shot by the keeper off Pooja Vastrakar. In the next over, Richa went for a slog-sweep off Healey but was dismissed at deep mid-wicket.

Shreyanka was impressive with her quick hands and hit three boundaries in her 15-ball 23. Although Megan continues to hit boundaries, Amelia stumps her and casts Renuka Thakur to end Bangalore’s innings.

(with inputs from agencies)

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