UPW vs RCB WPL 2023: After facing five defeats in a row, that too in the initial matches of tournament, RCB has finally bounced back. They have defeated UP Warriorz by five wickets at DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai. Chasing 136, the winners lost their openers cheaply as Smriti Mandhana failed once again (0 off 3), however, brave cameos by Kanika Ahuja (46 off 30) and Richa Ghosh (31 off 32) in the end ensured that RCB finally manages to get their victory as they chased down the target with 12 balls remaining.
12 runs were required in the last three overs and Richa did the job in that over itself. Mathematically, they are still not out of the tournament and are well alive in the race of the next rounds.
Ellyse Perry and Kanika Ahuja star in chase
Coming to chase, Royal Challengers Bangalore scored 14 runs in the first five balls, but just on the last ball of the over, opener Sophie Devine was dismissed (14 off 6) by Harris. Skipper Smriti Mandhana once again failed as she was bowled out for a duck off three balls by Deepti Sharma. Ellyse Perry, the key bowler in the match and star performer so far in WPL managed to score 10 off 13.
Heather Knight scored 24 off 21. Then, Kanika Ahuja took the charge and led from the front as she scored 46 off 30 balls, hitting eight boundaries and one maximum. She partnered with Richa Ghosh (31 off 32) to take her team across the line from 60/4 in 9 overs. Deepti Sharma picked a couple of wickets while Harris, Ecclestone and Devika picked one as well.
Up Warriorz top order fell flat
Earlier, Smriti Mandhana-led Royal Challengers Bangalore won the toss and opt to bowl first. Sophie Devine and Meghan Schutt gave a solid start to the team as UP Warriorz were left with a scorecard of 5/3. Just in the first over, Sophie took the wicket of Devika (0) and skipper Allysa Healy(1), and Tahila McGrath (2) was dismissed in the second over.
Kiran Navgire showed resistance and scored a valiant 22 off 26. However, quick wickets fell and the team was reduced to 31/5 in 8.1 overs. Although, star batter Harris took the charge and scored a valiant 46 off 32 until she was dismissed by Ellyse Perry in the 16th over. Deepti scored 12 off 9 as well. Both of these were dismissed in the same over just after the strategic timeout. None other batter could do much significant. Ellyse Perry picked up a three-wicket haul while Sophie Devine and Meghan Schutt grabbed a couple of wickets each too. Meghan Schutt and Shreyanka Patil grabbed each as well.
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