Mandhana, excellent captain
Ellyse Perry, the top all-around player, and captain Smriti Mandhana both scored fifty runs, which laid the groundwork for Royal Challengers Bangalore’s decisive 23-run victory against UP Warriorz in their Women’s Premier League encounter today.
As the Royal Challengers amassed a massive 198/3, Mandhana (80 off 50 balls, with 10 fours and 3 sixes) and Perry (58 off 37 balls, with 4 fours and 4 sixes) contributed 95 runs off only 64 balls for the second wicket.
We were feeling pressure after the previous two games. Today was our day to go out and take action. Mandhana, who won Player of the Match, said that while losing the toss did not help, “that was the chat—that the intent has to be right from the start.”
With the exception of skipper Alyssa Healy’s fifty (55 off 38 balls, including 7 fours and 3 sixes), the Warriorz’s chase finished at 175/8 with nothing to brag about.
“We knew 198 would be difficult to pursue. Various bowlers picked up the pressure and gave us breakthroughs at various periods, according to Mandhana.
The WPL’s Bengaluru leg came to an end with this match; the caravan is now moving on to New Delhi.
Brief scores: UP Warriorz: 175/8 in 20 overs (Healy 55, Deepti 33; Devine 2/37, Asha 2/29); Royal Challengers Bangalore: 198/3 in 20 overs (Mandhana 80, Perry 58, Ecclestone 1/22).
