At the Brabourne Stadium, the Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) played an exciting match in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025. MI lost their chase of 200 runs by 11 runs despite a heroic effort from Nat Sciver-Brunt.
MI’s aspirations of winning the league stage were crushed by this loss, which was their first loss at the Brabourne Stadium in six games. However, RCB, backed by a strong batting display from Smriti Mandhana and Ellyse Perry, secured their third consecutive win. The thrilling contest attracted widespread attention, with 1xBat adding to the excitement of the match.
RCB’s Batting Masterclass
Meghana and Mandhana Set the Tone
With nothing to lose, RCB entered the game and played with unwavering determination. S Meghana and Smriti Mandhana gave a strong start and immediately targeted MI’s top bowlers. In the second over, Meghana hit two fours off Nat Sciver-Brunt, and against Shabnim Ismail, Mandhana finished the third over with a four and a spectacular straight six.
In keeping with her aggressive style, Meghana greeted Hayley Matthews with a barrage of boundaries, including two fours and a six. But the final laugh went to Matthews, who dismissed Meghana with a top-edged bouncer that was well-directed to short fine leg.
Perry’s Anchoring Role and MI’s Fielding Woes
Ellyse Perry, who took advantage of three missed opportunities by MI, was an essential anchor for RCB. Perry was given a life on 16 when Amelia Kerr, who had a forgettable day with the ball, could not hold onto a crisp return catch.
Sanskriti Gupta dropped Mandhana at midwicket on 52 after she had completed her half-century from 35 balls. Perry ensured RCB kept up their momentum even if Mandhana fell shortly after.
Ghosh and Wareham’s Late Flourish
The late fireworks from Richa Ghosh and Georgia Wareham helped RCB reach a respectable total. With a reverse scoop, a straight six, and a scoop over the wicketkeeper, Ghosh ripped at Shabnim Ismail, scoring 15 runs off an over.
Wareham, renowned for her aggressive batting, hit a string of boundaries in the last over and amassed 31 runs off just 10 balls. Her undefeated appearance helped RCB score 65 runs in the final four overs, setting MI a lofty goal of 199.
MI’s Chase: Sciver-Brunt Shines, but Support Lacking
Early Setbacks for MI
As their initial problems persisted, MI’s pursuit got off to a rough start. In the first 30 deliveries, Amelia Kerr, who has had trouble at bat throughout the tournament, faced just nine balls.
Hayley Matthews showed some promise with a couple of magnificent hits off Perry, but Sneh Rana dismissed both openers with two straight strikes. Kerr skied one to cover for nine runs while Matthews holed out to deep square leg.
Harmanpreet’s Brief Resistance
The captain of MI, Harmanpreet Kaur, escaped a review and lbw claim from Heather Graham’s bowling. She appeared certain, identifying the spaces with two strategically placed boundaries.
But Kim Garth’s astute bowling ended her time at the crease. Garth used a back-of-the-hand leg cutter to trick Harmanpreet, creating an edge that Richa Ghosh took easily.
Sciver-Brunt’s Heroics
Despite the early defeats, Nat Sciver-Brunt’s incredible smash of 69 off 35 balls kept MI’s hopes alive. She dispatched boundaries as she saw fit, focussing on the shorter boundary on the offside.
Sciver-Brunt defeated RCB bowlers Wareham, Graham, and Rana with a string of strong blows. But the pivotal moment came when she was dismissed in the fifteenth over after miscueing an off-cutter from Perry. MI’s task grew more challenging as they needed to score 71 runs off 31 balls and had no well-known players to follow.
Saj Ana’s Late Charge
Under the leadership of S Sajana, MI’s lowest order resisted surrendering easily. In the final overs, Sajana, renowned for her ability to strike hard, faced off against the bowlers of the RCB. She hit boundaries to keep MI in the hunt by focussing on Kim Garth’s slower deliveries when 44 runs were needed off 12 balls.
Sajana hit Perry for two sixes down the ground in the last over, but MI’s hopes were dashed when she was dismissed for 23 off 12 balls. The team lost their league stage campaign after falling short by 11 runs.
Key Takeaways from the Match
RCB’s Batting Depth
In this game, RCB’s batting depth was evident. Mandhana, Perry, Ghosh, and Wareham’s contributions demonstrated the team’s capacity to score huge totals. In a high-scoring match, their aggressive style—particularly in the final overs—turned out to be the difference.
Fielding Gaps in MI
Due to MI’s subpar fielding, which included multiple misfields and dropped catches, RCB was able to post a competitive total. Perry and Mandhana both went on to make important contributions; thus, their missed opportunities became costly. Such mistakes could mean the difference between winning and losing in a competition as tough as the WPL.
Sciver-Brunt’s Consistency
Nat Sciver-Brunt demonstrated once more why she is among the WPL’s most valuable players. Her ability to score runs fast and lead the innings was essential for MI. However, Her efforts were futile because the other batters did not back her.
To read more blog: Historic Moment New Zealand Cricket Tom Bruce Scores 345 Run
Final Thoughts
The encounter between the Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru demonstrated the thrilling and competitive nature of the Women’s Premier League. MI’s fielding errors and lack of support for Sciver-Brunt cost them the game, while RCB’s hitting depth and aggressive style earned them a vital victory.
Both sides will try to strengthen their areas of weakness as the league round draws to a close to return stronger in the knockout stages. This victory gave RCB more confidence, but MI must regroup and refocus to contend for the championship.
