Sciver-Brunt’s Historic Century and MI’s Grit Seal Thrilling Win Over RCB in WPL 2026

Vadodara, Jan 2026 : Mumbai Indians produced a performance packed with records, resilience, and raw drama to edge past Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 15 runs in a pulsating Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 encounter at the BCA Stadium on Monday. The contest will be remembered for Nat Sciver-Brunt’s landmark century—the first in WPL history—and for Richa Ghosh’s astonishing late onslaught that nearly pulled off one of the greatest chases the league has seen.

Asked to bat first after RCB won the toss, MI posted a commanding 199 for 4, the highest total at the venue this season. At the heart of the innings was Sciver-Brunt, who scripted history with an unbeaten 100 off 57 balls, an innings embellished with 16 boundaries and a six. Her knock not only marked the first century in the WPL but also her maiden hundred in T20 cricket, underlining her stature as one of the finest all-rounders in the women’s game.

MI’s innings did not begin without setbacks. Opener Sajeevan Sajana struck an early boundary but was trapped lbw by Lauren Bell in the third over, giving RCB a promising start. However, what followed was a masterclass in partnership building and controlled aggression from Sciver-Brunt and Hayley Matthews. The duo absorbed early pressure before steadily increasing the tempo, targeting the spinners and punishing loose deliveries from the seamers.

Once settled, the pair dominated the middle overs. Sciver-Brunt’s timing through the leg side and Matthews’ clean hitting over the infield kept the scoreboard ticking at a brisk pace. MI crossed the 100-run mark in the 12th over, firmly seizing momentum. Matthews brought up her half-century off just 39 balls, striking nine fours, before falling for 56 while attempting a cross-batted shot against Bell. By then, the damage was done, with the second-wicket partnership yielding a crucial 131 runs off just 73 deliveries.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur ensured there was no dip in intensity. Her brisk 20 off 12 balls, featuring two fours and a six, further unsettled the RCB bowlers. Though she fell to Nadine de Klerk, MI continued to push hard, with Amanjot Kaur chipping in briefly. All eyes, however, remained on Sciver-Brunt, who paced her innings superbly, accelerating in the death overs to reach the coveted three-figure mark in the penultimate over. MI eventually closed on 199/4, a total that looked imposing but not entirely beyond reach on a good batting surface.

RCB’s bowlers endured a tough evening. Lauren Bell stood out with figures of 2 for 21, using her variations effectively, while Shreyanka Patil claimed one wicket. The rest struggled with consistency, often erring in length and allowing MI’s batters to capitalise.

Chasing 200, RCB’s innings took a dramatic turn almost immediately. MI’s new-ball pair of Shabnim Ismail and Hayley Matthews tore through the top order with pace, swing, and accuracy. Grace Harris was caught behind off Ismail in the third over, and Matthews then struck twice in quick succession, removing skipper Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll. Ismail returned to bowl Gautami Naik, while Matthews dismissed Radha Yadav for a two-ball duck, leaving RCB reeling at 35 for 5 at the end of the powerplay.

With the match seemingly slipping away, Richa Ghosh walked in and began what would become a breathtaking counter-attack. Initially cautious, she focused on rebuilding, finding support from Nadine de Klerk. The pair added valuable runs, with de Klerk contributing a lively 28 off 20 balls before being undone by Amelia Kerr’s guile in the 11th over.

RCB’s troubles deepened when Arundhati Reddy and Sayali Satghare fell in quick succession, reducing the side to 129 for 8. At that stage, the equation looked daunting, and MI appeared firmly in control. But Ghosh had other plans.

Displaying remarkable composure and fearless strokeplay, Ghosh shifted gears after reaching her half-century. She cut, pulled, and lofted with precision, targeting the shorter boundaries and unsettling MI’s bowlers. The final two overs turned the contest on its head. Ghosh smashed three consecutive sixes off Amanjot Kaur in the 18th over and followed it up with more boundaries against Kerr in the 19th, suddenly bringing the required rate within striking distance.

RCB needed 59 runs from the last two overs, a near-impossible task that suddenly seemed achievable. With each blow from Ghosh’s bat, the pressure mounted on MI, and the home crowd sensed a miracle. However, MI held their nerve. In the final over, despite Ghosh striking more boundaries, she was caught off the last ball while attempting another big hit, dismissed for a sensational 90 off 50 balls. RCB finished on 184 for 9, falling agonisingly short by 15 runs.

For MI, the victory was immensely significant. It snapped a three-match losing streak, lifted them to second place on the points table, and kept their playoff hopes firmly alive. Hayley Matthews capped off a fine all-round display with figures of 3 for 10, while Ismail claimed 2 for 25, underlining MI’s dominance for large portions of the game.

For RCB, the defeat marked their second consecutive loss after a five-match winning streak. While the early collapse proved costly, Ghosh’s heroic effort will be remembered as one of the finest individual innings in WPL history.

In the end, the match encapsulated everything the WPL stands for—records, resilience, and edge-of-the-seat drama—cementing its place as one of the most memorable encounters of the 2026 season.

Brief scores:
Mumbai Indians 199/4 in 20 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 100*, Hayley Matthews 56; Lauren Bell 2-21, Shreyanka Patil 1-34) beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru 184/9 in 20 overs (Richa Ghosh 90, Nadine de Klerk 28; Hayley Matthews 3-10, Shabnim Ismail 2-25) by 15 runs.