Barbados and West Indies captain Hayley Matthews made an impact with the ball but failed with the bat as her Mumbai Indians crashed to an 11-run defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women’s Premier League on Tuesday.

 

Matthews picked up two for 37 from four overs of her off-spin as RCB posted 199 for three off their 20 overs, captain Smriti Mandhana top-scoring with 53 off 37 deliveries.

 

In reply, Mumbai Indians were limited to 188 for nine off their 20 overs, the right-handed Matthews getting a start with 19 off 16 balls with four fours.

 

The defeat left Mumbai level on 10 points with leaders Delhi Capitals but second based on net run rate.

 

RCB enjoyed a great start when Mandhana, who struck half-dozen fours and three sixes, put on 41 for the first wicket with Sabbhineni Meghana (26) and a further 59 for the second wicket with Ellyse Perry (49 not out).

 

Once Mandhana departed in the 12th over, Perry took over, punching five fours and a six in anchoring a 53-run, third wicket stand with Richa Ghosh (36) and then an unbroken 46-run, fourth wicket partnership with Georgia Wareham who blasted a 10-ball 31 not out.

 

Mumbai’s run chase was set back when Matthews, already with two fifties in the tournament, holed out to square leg off off-spinner Sneh Rana (3-26). And when Amelia Kerr followed for nine, Mumbai were stumbling at 38 for two at the start of the sixth over.

 

In-form Nat Sciver-Brunt then intervened, top-scoring with an impressive 69 off 35 balls with nine fours and two sixes, adding exactly 50 for the third wicket with captain Harmanpreet Kaur (20) and a further 51 for the fourth with Amanjot Kaur (17).

 

Once Sciver-Brunt fell in the 15th over, however, the chase fell away as Mumbai lost six wickets for 59 runs.

(BT)