WPL 2023: Hayley Mathews of Mumbai Indians (BCCI)
Hayley Mathews scored an unbeaten 77 for 3 wickets to help Mumbai Indians crush Royal Challengers Bangalore by 9 wickets.
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.
Bhatia hit several sweeps and cuts and then Mathews hit a six and a four and attacked Priti Bose. The left-arm spinner, however, made a strong comeback and broke the opening stand of 45 runs.
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.
Mathews though grew from strength to strength as she punched one through point for a four and then smashed another straight down the ground, hitting Megan Schutt for consecutive fours to bring up MI’s 50 in the final over of the powerplay.
Nat Sciver-Brunt struck a chord early on and kept the momentum going by hitting three fours in Patil’s over. Both continued to hit fours and Mathews completed his half-century in 26 balls. MI reached 95/1 at the mid-way stage. RCB bowlers had no answers as Mathews and Nat Sciver-Brunt hit a number of fours and sixes powered by timing and placement. The pair stitched a 100-run partnership off just 48 balls to take the game away from RCB.
Nat Sciver-Brunt then brought up his half-century and lofted a wide over mid-off off Perry for another boundary and he smashed the next ball through mid-wicket to finish things off in style and seal it for Mumbai Indians. Won for 34 balls left. She remained unbeaten on 55 off 29 balls while Mathews remained unbeaten on 77 off 38 balls. The pair put on an unbeaten 114 off just 56 balls. MI made a strong statement in their innings hitting 26 fours and two sixes.
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 impressed with her quick hands and hit three fours in her 23 off 15 balls. 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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