Ashish Ranjan
MIW vs RCBW Highlights:
MIW vs RCBW: Mumbai Indians ended their two-match losing streak by claiming victory in their final group-stage match of the Women’s Premier League 2023 on March 21. MI chased down a target of 126 runs with four wickets remaining in 16.3 overs at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
The Mumbai Indians have maintained their prospects of securing a direct berth in the final by reclaiming the top spot in the 5-team points table. It was MI’s sixth victory of the season, coming as they ended a two-match losing sequence.
If Delhi Capitals lose their final encounter against UP Warriorz later on Tuesday, Mumbai Indians will advance directly to the championship match. On Monday, Delhi defeated MI by nine wickets in a top-of-the-table match.
.@mipaltan win & move where they were all along 👉🔝 of the #TATAWPL table 🔥#CheerTheW #RCBvMI pic.twitter.com/ANBzmefNZD
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) March 21, 2023
Mumbai Indians relied on a collective batting effort, with all-rounder Amelia Kerr’s unbeaten 31 leading the batting rankings. After the table-toppers suffered a mid-overs collapse, losing Harmanpreet Kaur (2) and Nat Sciver-Brunt (13), Kerr teamed up with Pooja Vastrakar for a 47-run partnership. Vastrakar contributed 19 runs to the effort.
In the powerplay earlier in the day, Hayley Matthews and Yastika Bhatia provided Mumbai with a sturdy opening stand of 53 runs. In Shreyanka Patil’s final delivery of the powerplay, Mumbai lost Yastika. Hayley was eventually dismissed by Megan Schut in the eighth over, after the West Indies opener received a reprieve when Sophie Devine ran her out for overstepping during the powerplay.
In the middle overs, Mumbai lost four wickets for only 19 runs, but the partnership between Kerr and Vastrakar allowed them to cross the finish line.
RCB reached 125 for 9 in 20 overs thanks to useful contributions from Smriti Mandhana (24) and Ellyse Perry (29 off 38) earlier in the day. Richa Ghosh’s powerful hitting (29 runs off 13 balls with 2 sixes and 3 boundaries) enabled them surpass 120 runs.
Also Read | “No Indian Player Bats Like Me”: Virender Sehwag. Identifies two competitors who “come close.”
Smriti Mandhana finished her WPL debut season without a fifty.Amelia Kerr also excelled with the ball, taking three wickets, while Issy Wong took two. Megan Schutt was dismissed by the impressive Saika Ishque, adding to her tally.
