Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Mumbai Indians (MI) by 11 runs at Brabourne Stadium, denying MI a top-table finish in WPL 2025. MI, needing a win to secure a direct final berth, faltered in their chase of 200 despite Nat Sciver-Brunt’s 69 off 35 balls. Poor fielding allowed RCB to post 199 for 3, and MI suffered their first loss at Brabourne in six games.
RCB’s innings was powered by Smriti Mandhana’s 53, S Meghana’s aggressive start, Ellyse Perry’s stabilizing knock, and late fireworks from Richa Ghosh and Georgia Wareham. Meghana attacked MI’s bowlers early but fell for 26 off 13. Mandhana reached fifty off 35 balls before holing out at long-off. Perry, dropped multiple times, made MI pay, while Ghosh played audacious shots. Wareham’s explosive 31 off 10 helped RCB add 65 in the last four overs.
MI’s chase began shakily as Sneh Rana removed Hayley Matthews and Amelia Kerr in consecutive overs. Harmanpreet Kaur fell to Kim Garth, leaving MI at 45 for 2 in the powerplay. Sciver-Brunt kept the chase alive, consistently finding the boundary. However, her dismissal in the 15th over left MI needing 71 from 31 balls.
S Sajana provided a late scare with powerful strikes, smashing Perry for two sixes in the final over. However, she fell for 23 off 12, and MI fell short. Rana’s 3 for 26 and disciplined bowling in the death overs sealed RCB’s win, lifting them off the bottom of the table.
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