BENGALURU, India, CMC – Hayley Matthews got a start but failed to carry on as her Mumbai Indians comfortably chased down a modest target to beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by seven wickets and go top of the Women’s Premier League here Saturday.
In pursuit of 132 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Mumbai overhauled their target with 29 balls to spare, with the West Indies captain chipping in with 26 from 21 balls.
She struck three fours and a six, helping lay the foundation for the run chase in a 45-run opening standoff of 23 balls with Yastika Bhatia, who lashed a 15-ball 31.
Matthews added a further 24 for the second wicket with captain Nat Sciver-Brunt (27) before holing out to cover on the edge of the circle, trying to attack off-spinner Shreyanka Patil.
New Zealander Amelia Kerr calmed any nerves, however, top-scoring with 40 off 24 deliveries with seven fours to fuel an essential 49-run third-wicket partnership with Sciver-Brunt.
Earlier, RCB stumbled to 131 for six off their 20 overs after being sent in, Australian Ellyse Perry holding the innings with an unbeaten 44 off 38 balls.
With the innings in dire straits at 42 for four in the ninth over, Perry put on 29 for the fifth wicket with fellow countrywoman Sophie Molineux (12) before adding a further 51 for the seventh wicket with another international teammate Georgia Wareham, who made 27 from 20 deliveries.
The win was Mumbai’s third in four games, putting them top of the standings on six points.
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