Mandhana, Perry star in RCB victory

Dharmendra2 kumar

getcricketnews|05-03-2024

Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bangalore rounded off their WPL home leg with a 23-run victory over UP Warriorz at the M Chinnaswamy stadium on Monday.

After being put in to bat, RCB rode on a power-packed batting display from their top order to post 198 for 3, before braving Alyssa Healy's onslaught with the aid of their spinners to reclaim third place.

Smriti Mandhana (80), Sabbhineni Meghana (28), Ellyse Perry (58) and Richa Ghosh all contributed healthily to RCB's highest-ever WPL total.

The hosts got off to a rollicking start and raced away to 57/1 at the end of the powerplay. Sabbhineni Meghana did justice to her promotion by striking five fours, before finding Chamari Athapaththu off Anjali Sarvani.

Smriti Mandhana led a charmed life en route a typically elegant 80, replete with stunning sixes over extra cover and punchy strokes off the back-foot to the leg-side boundary.

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Chamari dropped a regulation catch when the southpaw was batting on 28, and the very next over, Alyssa missed a stumping opportunity.

With runs flowing freely, Smriti and Ellyse Perry put on 95 runs in 64 balls, but the stand was broken by Deepti Sharma when Smriti picked out Poonam Khemnar at deep mid-wicket.

Ellyse walloped her compatriot Grace Harris for a disdainful hit over long-on, and continued to enthrall the 26500-strong crowd with some delectable ball striking.

Rajeshwari Gayakwad's 18th over went for 21 runs as Ellyse and Richa Ghosh muscled three sixes. The duo put on a crucial 42 runs in just 18 balls.

Ellyse failed to clear Poonam as the economical Sophie Ecclestone, who varied her pace brilliantly, opened her tally.

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