Mumbai Indians held off a surprising late assault from Richa Ghosh to beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 15 runs in an exciting 2026 Girls’s Premier League (WPL) conflict on the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Monday.
Chasing 200, RCB collapsed to 35/5 within the powerplay as Hayley Matthews and Shabnim Ismail tore via the highest order, leaving the facet in enormous hazard of struggling a giant hit to their internet run price. However Richa had different concepts, as she launched a wide ranging counter-attack, smashing 90 off 50 balls with 10 fours and 6 sixes to almost pull off an unbelievable victory.
After crawling to 55 off 40 balls in 18 overs, Ghosh exploded within the closing two, plundering 35 runs to present MI a real scare earlier than falling agonizingly in need of a win by being dismissed on the final ball, as RCB ended up making 184/9.
Aside from these final two overs, it was a commanding efficiency from MI, who’ve stored their playoff hopes alive. Hayley returned with figures of 3-10, because the win lifted MI again to second place on the factors desk.
Nat Sciver-Brunt had earlier struck the primary century in WPL’s historical past to propel MI to a formidable 199/4. After Hayley and Shabnim did the early harm, Richa discovered assist from Nadine de Klerk and Arundhati Reddy within the center order, however the early harm proved to be too extreme regardless of her late heroics.
The defeat marks RCB’s second consecutive loss after profitable their opening 5 matches. For MI, the victory offered a vital confidence enhance in a must-win encounter, with their senior gamers delivering when it mattered most regardless of the late wobble.
The sport will discover a particular point out within the historical past books, as batting all-rounder Nat etched her title into the document books by turning into the primary batsman to attain a century within the WPL. After 1059 days and 82 matches, the WPL lastly witnessed its first centurion, and fittingly, it was achieved by Nat, who additionally registered her maiden T20 hundred.
Strolling in early, she absorbed the stress earlier than shifting gears with chic strokeplay and scorching timing to dismantle the RCB assault in an unbeaten 57-ball century laced with 16 fours and a six. Partnering with Hayley, who made a 39-ball 56, Nat ensured MI surged previous the earlier highest whole on the venue this season.
The duo stitched a 131-run stand, with boundaries flowing freely as soon as they settled in. Although Hayley departed after getting her fifty, Nat carried on to succeed in the magical three-figure mark within the closing over.
RCB’s bowling unit endured a troublesome outing, with solely Lauren Bell managing some management and choosing 2-21 in her 4 overs. The remainder of them struggled with their lengths, both too full or too brief, and have been punished accordingly by MI’s batters.
Despatched in to bat first, Sajeevan Sajana struck an early boundary however was trapped lbw by Lauren Bell within the third over. Nat then joined Hayley, and the pair stitched collectively a commanding stand. The duo took time to settle earlier than opening up within the center overs.
Sciver-Brunt’s fluent strokeplay, particularly via the leg-side, and Hayley’s acceleration noticed MI surge previous the 100-run mark within the twelfth over. Hayley accomplished her half-century however was bowled by Lauren for 56, ending a high-quality partnership that had put MI firmly in management.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur stored the tempo excessive with a brisk 20 off 12 balls, placing two fours and a six, earlier than falling to Nadine de Klerk. Amanjot Kaur chipped in briefly, however the highlight remained on Sciver-Brunt, who continued to dominate the RCB assault.
Boundaries flowed freely as Sciver-Brunt raced into the 90s. She introduced up her maiden T20 hundred and the first-ever century in WPL historical past within the penultimate over with a single via long-off and completed unbeaten on 100 off 57 balls. Although Amanjot was castled by Shreyanka Patil, MI closed on 199/4, the best whole on the venue this season.
MI struck early with the ball when Shabnim had Grace Harris, who earlier hit Sciver-Brunt for a hat-trick of fours, within the third over, by having caught behind by Rahila Firdous. Hayley compounded RCB’s woes by dismissing skipper Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll in fast succession. Extra cheer was in retailer for MI when Gautami Naik was bowled by Shabnim, whereas Radha Yadav fell for a two-ball duck to Hayley, as RCB have been 5 down in power-play.
Nadine de Klerk tried a fightback with 28 off 20 balls, placing a six and three boundaries, however was undo by Amelia Kerr’s googly within the eleventh over. When Arundhati Reddy and Sayali Satghare departed in successive deliveries from Amanjot Kaur, it left RCB at 129/8.
On the different finish, Richa fought a lone battle. She started cautiously however accelerated after the midway mark, chopping and lofting for her boundaries. She reached her half-century with a six over sweeper cowl off Nat after which launched a surprising counterattack within the loss of life overs.
Ghosh smashed three consecutive sixes off Amanjot Kaur within the 18th over, adopted by two extra maximums and a 4 off Kerr within the penultimate over, elevating hopes of an unbelievable win. However she was ultimately caught by Sanskriti Gupta off Amelia for a powerful 90, as RCB’s problem resulted in one other defeat for them.
Transient scores: Mumbai Indians 199/4 in 20 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 100 not out, Hayley Matthews 56; Lauren Bell 2-21, Shreyanka Patil 1-34) beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru 184/9 in 20 overs (Richa Ghosh 90, Nadine de Klerk 28; Hayley Matthews 3-10, Shabnim Ismail 2-25) by 15 runs