MI vs RCB, WPL Highlights: Mumbai Indians win by 15 runs

Who will bowl the second over? The centurion it shall be. No rest. Here's Nat Sciver-Brunt into the attack from the opposite end. 

Shabnim Ismail to Smriti Mandhana, A bouncer, on leg, Smriti ducks under it safely. 

Shabnim Ismail to Smriti Mandhana, Pops off the surface, outside off, this is tapped off the back foot to cover-point. 

Shabnim Ismail to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! Gets into the business with a sublime shot! Full and wide outside off, Smriti presses in front and creams it through the cover and backward point gap for a boundary. Didn't try to hit it too hard, just timed the ball to perfection. 

Shabnim Ismail to Grace Harris, Off the mark through a hasty single! Much fuller, around off, Harris pushes it off the front foot to the widish cover region and hurries through for a single. 

Shabnim Ismail to Grace Harris, Dug in short, outside off, Grace flat bats it to mid off. 

Shabnim Ismail to Grace Harris, Steps down the track and punches this length ball to the cover region. 

Welcome back for the run chase. The MI players scatter out of the huddle and take their respective positions on the field. Smriti Mandhana and Grace Harris walk out as the opening pair for RCB. And as usual, it will be Shabnim Ismail to bowl the opening over. Searching for runs, it will be Grace Harris to take the strike. A slip in place. Here we go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

So it is exactly 200 for RCB to get back to winning ways. Their bowling has come under the scanner just when the playoffs are knocking on the door. Mumbai Indians have lost three on the bounce and this is just like a must-win game for them to keep their playoff hopes alive. It will be a big test for their bowling unit against a powerpacked RCB batting unit. Should be an interesting chase. Back in a bit. Stay tuned. 

And the woman of the moment, NAT SCIVER-BRUNT, is in for a quick chat - She also wears the Orange Cap as she is now the leading run scorer of this season. She says that she has seen a few players who stayed in the nineties, so she wanted to get to her century. Adds that the partnership with Hayley was excellent, and they had a powerful batting lineup, so they are happy with what they have achieved. On her celebration, Nat Sciver-Brunt smiles and shyly dedicates the milestone to her wife, Katherine Sciver-Brunt, who is probably asleep at home but whom she hopes is watching. She mentions that Kat really wanted her to reach triple figures. Reflecting on the achievement, Sciver-Brunt says it is her first T20 hundred and expresses her happiness at crossing the milestone, adding that she hopes it is not her last. On Mumbai Indians’ total of 199, Sciver-Brunt notes that after losing so many tosses this season, it feels great to put up a strong score. She also stresses that the bowlers will need to perform well, given RCB’s deep batting lineup.

Mumbai Indians scored 112/1 in that 7-15 over phase, as RCB were pushed into a reactive mode, constantly shuffling the field as the pair dictated terms with ease. Both brought up deserved half centuries, and although Bell eventually snapped their 131-run stand, the damage was done. The stage was perfectly set for a late surge, with Sciver-Brunt batting in a different orbit altogether and Harmanpreet Kaur providing the ideal support at the other end. With Sciver-Brunt finally ending the century drought in the WPL, MI finished on 199 on the board. 

Mumbai Indians’ biggest headache this season has been their Powerplay batting, and this outing followed the same worrying script. They have the slowest run rate in the first six overs, with their opening stand barely averaging a tick above 20, and Sajana’s early dismissal only deepened the sense of deja vu. The RCB bowlers tightened the screws once again, mainly through Bell, leaving MI crawling to 38/1 at the end of the Powerplay. Then came the turnaround. Nat Sciver-Brunt and a run-hungry Hayley Matthews stitched together a superb recovery, built more on clarity and class. There was no blind slogging, just smart cricket. They absorbed the pressure, waited for the bowlers to err, and cashed in whenever the bowlers missed their lengths. Once set, the tempo lifted sharply through the middle overs as boundaries began to flow with reassuring regularity.

Mumbai Indians may have remained one shy of 200, but the Women's Premier League's wait is over for its first centurion, finally. It was a matter of when, and the question was who? And it was answered by Nat Sciver-Brunt. In a knock of the highest class, she stayed unbeaten on 100 from just 57 deliveries, blending authority with elegance throughout. Her innings powered Mumbai Indians into a commanding position at the halfway stage and gave the league a moment it had been waiting for eagerly.

Shreyanka Patil to Amelia Kerr, Much fuller, outside off, Amelia Kerr lifts it towards long off for a single. Nat Sciver-Brunt wanted a second run but Amelia Kerr sent her back. Mumbai Indians end their innings at 199 runs.

Last ball coming up. Can MI get past 200? Amelia Kerr walks in at number 6.

Shreyanka Patil to Amanjot Kaur, OUT! TIMBER! Shreyanka Patil gets a wicket on her name. Flatter, on off, and it skids through. Amanjot Kaur looks to loft it but misses it completely as the ball hits the timber. Amanjot Kaur walks back into the shed.

Shreyanka Patil to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hundred up for Nat Sciver-Brunt! What a brilliant knock this has been. She also becomes the first batter to score a century in WPL! Nice and full, on off, Nat Sciver-Brunt knocks it down the ground for a single. Fittingly, the first century has been scored by the highest run-getter in the history of this competition. She raises her bat towards the dugout, her teammates, and even her family, which includes her wife and son. This is truly a moment to savour and her knock will be remembered for a long, long time.

Shreyanka Patil to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Keeps it full, on leg, Nat Sciver-Brunt looks to flick it but gets a bottom edge as the ball rolls to the left of the keeper. Dot. Nat Sciver-Brunt stays in 99 for now!

Shreyanka Patil to Amanjot Kaur, Full, on leg, Amanjot Kaur taps it to cover for a quick single. The fielder throws it towards the keeper but Nat Sciver-Brunt makes it in the crease comfortably.

Shreyanka Patil to Amanjot Kaur, Nice and full, on off, Amanjot Kaur drills it down the ground for a brace. Excellent running between the wickets. The fielder dives to her left and makes a brilliant stop in the deep. Saves two runs for her team.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, FOUR! Finds the gap! Much fuller, outside off, Nat Sciver-Brunt stays back and steers it through cover-point. The fielder, Arundhati, dives to her left to stop the boundary but fails to do so. Nat Sciver-Brunt moves to 99 now!

The 42-run partnership is broken for the third wicket. Amanjot Kaur walks in at number 5.

Nadine De Klerk to Amanjot Kaur, Slower one, on off, Amanjot Kaur flicks it to mid on for a single.

Nadine De Klerk to Harmanpreet Kaur, OUT! TAKEN! Nadine De Klerk has the last laugh. On a length, outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur stays back and looks to go down the ground. Gets it off the toe end of her bat as the ball carries towards long off. Georgia Voll settles under it and completes the catch. A quickfire 20 off 12 for Harmanpreet Kaur. Mumbai Indians are 189/3.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Keeps it full, on leg, Nat Sciver-Brunt flicks it through mid on for a single.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, FOUR! Nat Sciver-Brunt moves to 94 now! Nice and full, outside off, Nat Sciver-Brunt leans on and cracks a drive through wide of mid off for a boundary.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Too full, on off, Nat Sciver-Brunt pushes it to point.

Sayali Satghare to Harmanpreet Kaur, FOUR MORE! Back-to-back boundaries from Harmanpreet Kaur! Length again, outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur stays back and steers it through cover-point for yet another boundary.

Sayali Satghare to Harmanpreet Kaur, FOUR! Excellent from the skipper! On a length, outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur stays in her crease and chips it over extra cover for a boundary.

Sayali Satghare to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Full, on middle, Nat Sciver-Brunt chips it over mid on for a single. She gets into her 90s!

Sayali Satghare to Nat Sciver-Brunt, FOUR! Top shot from Nat Sciver-Brunt! Much fuller, outside off, Nat Sciver-Brunt goes down on one knee and clatters it over extra cover for a boundary.

Sayali Satghare to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Too full, on middle, Nat Sciver-Brunt drills it down the ground. The fielder fumbles in the deep, which allows the batters to collect two runs. The umpire checks for a short run and replays show that it was a fair run, though initially it looked like Kaur's bat was in the air for a bit. Two runs it is.

Sayali Satghare to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Much fuller, outside off, Nat Sciver-Brunt drives it to cover for a single.

Nadine De Klerk to Harmanpreet Kaur, A low full toss, on off, Harmanpreet Kaur gets down on one knee and slogs it over square leg for a brace. Good work in the deep by Radha Yadav, who runs to her right from deep mid-wicket and dives full-length to cut it off.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Too full, on off, Nat Sciver-Brunt digs it down the ground for a single.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, FOUR! The onslaught continues from Nat Sciver-Brunt! That was cheeky. Full, outside off, Nat Sciver-Brunt picks it well and scoops it over short third for a boundary.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Wide! Goes way outside off, Nat Sciver-Brunt leaves. Wided.

Nadine De Klerk to Harmanpreet Kaur, A low full toss, outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur drives it to cover for a single.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Keeps it full, on off, Nat Sciver-Brunt slogs it over mid-wicket for just a single. Good fielding in the deep.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Nice and full, outside off, Nat Sciver-Brunt tries to drive it but misses.

STRATEGIC BREAK. Going about at almost 10s an over, Mumbai Indians are well and truly on course for a total in excess of 200. The platform has been perfectly laid by Matthews and Sciver-Brunt through that middle phase as MI smashed 112 runs in that 7-15 over phase. It’s a surface made for batting and if RCB are to keep Mumbai under that mark, it would count as a significant win. For now though, everything hinges on breaking this partnership.

Sayali Satghare to Harmanpreet Kaur, Beaten! Much fuller, outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur swings hard but misses. 

Sayali Satghare to Harmanpreet Kaur, Keeps it full again, on off, Harmanpreet Kaur pushes it to the cover fielder.

Sayali Satghare to Harmanpreet Kaur, Nice and full, on off, Harmanpreet Kaur drives it to cover. A misfield allows the batters to collect two runs. That should have been a dot.

Sayali Satghare to Harmanpreet Kaur, A low full toss, on off, Harmanpreet Kaur pushes it to mid off.

Sayali Satghare to Harmanpreet Kaur, SIX! The skipper gets the crowd on their toes! Sayali Satghare goes fuller, outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur stays in her crease and powers it over long off for a biggie.

Sayali Satghare to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Nice and full, on off, Nat Sciver-Brunt knocks it to long on for a single.

Lauren Bell to Nat Sciver-Brunt, An off-pace delivery, full and outside off, Nat Sciver-Brunt slaps it to deep point for a single. 150 up for Mumbai Indians!

Lauren Bell to Nat Sciver-Brunt, WIDE! Miles outside the off stump, beyond the tramline. Left alone.