Match 19, Navi Mumbai, March 21, 2023, 03:30 PM
Royal Challengers Bangalore
125/9(20.0ov)
Mumbai Indians
129/6(16.3ov)
Mumbai Indians beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 4 wickets
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Amelia Kerr is the Player of the Match for her all-round show tonight. (31* off 27 with the bat and 4-0-22-3 with the ball)
Time for Presentations...
Earlier in the game, Harmanpreet Kaur finally won a toss after 7 games and opted to bowl first. On a sunny afternoon and a dry wicket on offer, Mumbai bowled first and they did a stellar job at that as well. Hayley Matthews bowled a tidy spell in the Powerplay and getting rid of Sophie Devine via a run out in the first over helped Mumbai a lot as well. In the middle phase, their bowlers controlled the play with Amelia Kerr not giving away anything to the batters. Bangalore, on the back of a couple of starts at the top and a cameo from Richa Ghosh towards the end managed to get to 125 runs. Coming to the chase, Mumbai showed intent to get back onto the top spots and even with wickets falling they managed to wrap things up with 20 balls remaining.
Bangalore's journey in the Women's T20 League 2023 ends for now and it ends with another painful loss. With the ball, they were a bit sloppy in the Powerplay and a couple of no balls really cost them dearly. However, they made a comeback in the middle overs picking up wickets in a bunch with Megan Schutt bowling really well. The rest of the bowlers did get a bit of tap and even though they picked up wickets, the runs to defend were always running out. Kanika Ahuja picked up a couple of wickets late in the game but overall not the ending Bangalore would have hoped for.
Mumbai needed a big win to make sure they bolster their net run rate and in terms of balls remaining they have managed to do so. It was the bowling effort that set up the victory along with the solid opening stand between Yastika Bhatia and Hayley Matthews. However, just like the last couple of matches they lost wickets in a heap and would want to make sure this is not repeated. Amelia Kerr, after starring with the ball, played a calm-headed knock with the bat as well to take Mumbai over the line and she was well-supported by Pooja Vastrakar.
Mumbai finish the league stage with a win and this is a win that could be huge for them in the context of the points table. As for Bangalore, a forgetful tournament ends with another loss but they did all they could in the field.
In over# 17
5wd
0
0
4
Smriti Mandhana 9/0(0.3)
16.4
5wd
5 WIDES! Mumbai have done it the hard way. Fires it down the leg, and Amelia Kerr goes for the pull and misses. The keeper fails to collect it too and the ball runs down to the fine leg fence for five wides. Mumbai wins by 4 wickets with 20 balls to spare.
16.3
.
Fired in full and outside off. Amelia Kerr comes down and drills it to covers.
16.2
.
Short and outside off, cut away to covers.
16.1
4
FOUR! BANG! Half tracker down the leg. Amelia Kerr gets into the position and helps it toward the long leg region for a boundary. Easy pickings for the batter.
Amanjot Kaur walks out to bat now as Smriti Mandhana brings herself into the attack.
In over# 16
0W
0W
1
1
1
1wd
1
Kanika Ahuja 5/2(1)
15.6
W
OUT! GONE! Kanika Ahuja gets two in two. Flat and quicker around off. Issy Wong comes down and slices it uppishly to Mandhana at the extra cover region. Mumbai loses their sixth as Wong departs for a golden duck. Mumbai are doing it the hard way here.
Strategic break! With just 6 needed for victory and plenty of balls to spare, Mumbai are all set to regain top spot on the points table and edge closer to a direct entry into the final. Bangalore have put on a more than decent fight with the ball but just don't have enough runs on the board to defend. Also, Issy Wong is in next.
15.5
W
OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Full and on off. Pooja Vastrakar shimmies down and lofts it toward the long-off region. She gets the height but not the elevation. Smriti Mandhana settles nicely under the ball and takes it with ease. Mumbai lose their fifth as Pooja Vastrakar departs after a handy knock.
15.4
1
Full and on off. Amelia Kerr shimmies down and works it to wide long on for one.
15.3
1
DROPPED! Full and on off. Pooja Vastrakar drills it hard back to the bowler. Kanika Ahuja fails to hang on to hit and the batters take a single.