WPL 2024: Smriti Mandhana’s Masterclass Leads RCB to Dominant 23-Run Victory Over UP Warriorz

WPL 2024: Smriti Mandhana's Masterclass Leads RCB to Dominant 23-Run Victory Over UP Warriorz

Smriti Mandhana was beaming last month as Royal Challengers Bangalore kicked off their Women's Premier League campaign in front of home supporters, receiving thunderous ovation during the toss. In the final game of the season at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Monday, the RCB captain celebrated it with a 23-run victory against UP Warriorz thanks to a brilliant knock.

RCB was in fourth place in the points table, slightly below UPW, having lost their previous two matches. However, the Royal Challengers are once again in the race when the competition moves to Delhi for the second half. Asked to bat first, Smriti's 50-ball 80 helped the hosts reach 198/3, their biggest total of the season. Despite leading from the front with the bat, Ayssa Healy's half-century was insufficient as UPW concluded with 175/8.

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Bangalore sent S Meghana (28) to the top of the order, and it proved to be effective as the right-hander contributed to a rapid 51-run partnership for the first wicket. Healy missed a stumping and Chamari Athapaththu could not judge a catch, giving Smriti two reprieves in three deliveries. Despite this, Smriti stayed aggressive and played some elegant strokes to the crowd of almost 26,000.

Ellyse Perry, who had been mostly patient, lost control when Smriti was out for 95 runs in the 17th over. In their final three overs, RCB amassed 44 runs, and the star Australian hit 25 runs off the final nine deliveries she faced. With an undefeated 21 off 10 balls, Richa Ghosh, who entered at No. 4, put the finishing touches on the game.

“I was really focused coming into the game today,” said Smriti. “The last two losses hurt us a lot, we really wanted to go out there and express ourselves regardless of whether we were batting first or second. The pitch was holding a bit, but we really backed ourselves to go for our shots. We spoke about that in the dressing room as well, that we should go for it if the ball lands in the zone.”

Healy and Kiran Navgire set off with promise in the chase, but their early momentum fizzled out without significant gains for the Warriorz. Kiran's innings was abruptly halted by a precise delivery from Sophie Devine, while Athapaththu's dismissal under contentious LBW circumstances off Georgia Wareham's bowling added to the team's setbacks.

Amidst mounting pressure, the hopes rested heavily on the shoulders of the in-form Grace Harris. Yet, her innings was swiftly curtailed as she miscued a shot, resulting in a spectacular catch by wicketkeeper Richa, who dove skillfully to her left. Despite Deepti Sharma and Poonam Khemnar's resilient efforts to stage a fightback, the eventual result seemed all but certain.

A formidable bowling performance from Devine, Wareham, Asha Sobhana, and Sophie Molineux left the Warriorz struggling, as they collectively claimed eight crucial wickets, sealing RCB's victory with authority.