The Women’s Premier League (WPL) kicked off in style with another nail-biting encounter between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and UP Warriorz (UPW) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. RCB emerged victorious by a narrow margin of two runs in a last-over thriller, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.
RCB Bat First, Post Competitive Total
UPW captain Alyssa Healy opted to field after winning the toss. RCB got off to a shaky start, losing early wickets of Sophie Devine and Smriti Mandhana. However, a crucial partnership between Sabbhineni Meghana (53) and Richa Ghosh (62) steadied the ship. Meghana impressed on her WPL debut with a well-composed fifty, while Ghosh displayed her aggressive batting style with a quickfire half-century. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, RCB managed to post a competitive total of 157/6 thanks to valuable contributions from Shreyanka Patil and Sophie Molineux in the death overs.
UPW Fight Back, But RCB Holds Nerve
UPW’s chase began poorly with the loss of their skipper Healy in the second over. RCB bowlers, led by the impressive Asha Shobana (5/22), maintained tight control throughout the Powerplay, restricting the run flow and picking up key wickets. Grace Harris and Shweta Sehrawat provided a brief fightback with a fifty-run partnership, but the introduction of Shobana proved decisive. She scalped three crucial wickets in quick succession, derailing UPW’s momentum.
Deepti Sharma’s Heroics Almost Seal the Deal
With 30 runs needed off 18 balls, the pendulum swung again as Poonam Khemnar and Deepti Sharma brought UPW back into contention with some lusty blows. However, Georgia Wareham provided a vital breakthrough by dismissing Khemnar, leaving UPW needing 11 runs off the final over. The drama continued as Sharma smashed a four off the penultimate ball, bringing the equation down to a tense 5 needed off 1. But Sophie Molineux held her nerve, conceding only two runs and securing a thrilling victory for RCB.
Memorable Performances Light Up the Opener
The match witnessed several noteworthy individual performances. Shobana’s exceptional bowling spell with five wickets was instrumental in RCB’s win. Meghana’s debut fifty and Ghosh’s aggressive knock provided the foundation for RCB’s batting effort. Deepti Sharma’s late cameo almost snatched victory for UPW, showcasing her fighting spirit.
This thrilling encounter sets the tone for an exciting WPL season, promising close contests and exceptional individual performances. With all teams boasting star power and a blend of experience and youth, fans can expect a fiercely competitive tournament in the weeks to come.
Scores in Brief:
Royal Challengers Bangalore 157/6 in 20 overs (Richa Ghosh 62, S Meghana 53; Rajeshwari gayakwad 2-24)
UP Warriorz 155/7 in 20 overs (Grace Harris 38, Shweta Sehrawat 31; S Asha 5-22)
Result: Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 2 runs
