Twitter Reactions: Mumbai Indians go top after breezing past Royal Challengers Bangalore

Mumbai Indians. (Photo Source: Twitter/WPL)

Mumbai Indians snapped their losing streak after dismantling Royal Challengers Bangalore in a one-sided contest to go top of the WPL points table. Harmanpreet Kaur’s team restricted their opponents to a below-par total and then finished the chase with four wickets to spare.

Chasing a modest total, Mumbai Indians needed to get over the line inside 12 overs to guarantee their place in the final. Hayley Matthews, who managed to overturn the on-field decision on the very first delivery of the second innings, got her side to a flying start.

Her opening partner, Yastika Bhatia, also joined the party after dispatching Ellyse Perry for three boundaries in an over. A 53-run opening stand between the pair ensured a strong powerplay for Mumbai Indians before both the openers fell in quick succession.

The experienced pair of Nat Sciver and Harmanpreet Kaur were next to depart as RCB bowlers wrestled back the momentum for their side. But the all-round duo of Amelia Kerr and Pooja Vastrakar stitched together a combative partnership to make sure that Mumbai snapped their two-match losing streak to end the group stage on a high.

Earlier, Mumbai Indians skipper Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to bowl first on a sluggish surface at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Royal Challengers Bangalore, who were dumped out of the tournament after UP Warrioz’s thrilling victory, got off to a horrible start after Sophie Devine was run out in the very first over after a terrible mix-up with skipper Smriti Mandhana.

Mandhana, who has had an underwhelming WPL, succumbed to a spinner for the seventh time in the tournament after Amelia Kerr got rid of her after the powerplay. Heather Knight became the leggie’s second victim of the match as RCB struggled for runs in the middle overs.

The Bangalore-based franchise sled further in the match after Ellyse Perry’s sluggish knock was cut short by Nat Sciver-Brunt. RCB were struggling for rhythm and were meandering in their innings before the arrival of swashbuckling hitter Richa Ghosh. The wicket-keeper batter smashed 29 off just 13 deliveries to take her side to a respectable 125 runs on the board.