RCB Triumphs Over MI in Thrilling WPL Opener Led by Smriti Mandhana
RCB's Exciting Victory in WPL Opener
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 10: After a gripping opening match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Smriti Mandhana expressed her delight at her team's performance against the Mumbai Indians (MI). She noted that RCB is known for their thrilling matches, and this time they emerged victorious after a series of close encounters last season.
The much-anticipated match featured Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur leading MI against vice-captain Mandhana of RCB. The game lived up to expectations, with Nadine de Klerk's all-round performance guiding RCB to a nail-biting three-wicket win at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
During the post-match presentation, Smriti remarked, “This was a thrilling start to the WPL. RCB has a reputation for exciting games, and I’m thrilled we came out on top this time. Nadine's finishing was brilliant, and the team maintained a positive spirit throughout, even during tough moments.”
She also recalled how Nadine had previously snatched victory for South Africa against India in last year's World Cup, highlighting her ability to perform under pressure. Smriti mentioned that they hoped for a similar outcome after Nadine was dropped by Nat Sciver-Brunt during the match.
“We remembered her innings in Visakhapatnam during the World Cup. I told our head coach, Malolan, that we were in a similar situation back then, and Nadine pulled it off. When she got dropped, we hoped she would hit some sixes, and she did,” Smriti added.
Nadine was awarded 'Player of the Match' for her impressive bowling figures of 4/26 and a powerful 63 runs off 44 balls, making her only the second player in WPL history to achieve a fifty and take four wickets in a single match.
In her post-match comments, Nadine emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities when they arise. She admitted to feeling frustrated at the start of her innings but maintained a resilient mindset throughout the game.
At one point, Nadine struggled with just seven runs off 12 balls but quickly turned it around, scoring 56 runs in the next 32 deliveries. “I was fortunate with a few chances, and I’m glad we secured the win. Starting with a victory is always great. It’s about trusting your skills and executing well. We had a strong start with Bell and the bowlers in the power play, and I just focused on my strengths,” she explained.
RCB won the toss and chose to field first. After MI found themselves at 67/4, a partnership of 82 runs between S Sajana (45 off 25 balls) and Nicola Carey (40 off 29 balls) helped MI reach 154/6, with Nadine and Lauren Bell delivering exceptional bowling performances.
In response, RCB began strongly with a 40-run opening partnership from Grace Harris (25 off 12 balls) and Smriti Mandhana (18 off 13 balls). However, Amelia Kerr's spell (2/13) shifted momentum back to MI, leaving RCB at 65/5. A crucial 52-run partnership between Nadine and Arundhati Reddy (20 off 25 balls) kept RCB in contention. With 18 runs needed in the final over, Nadine hit Sciver-Brunt for 6, 4, 6, and 4 to clinch a memorable victory, supported by Prema Rawat's quick cameo of 8 runs off 4 balls.