Mumbai Indians (MI) Women delivered an impressive all-round performance, clinching a thrilling 15-run victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Women in the 16th match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) held in Vadodara on January 26, 2026. The match was a nail-biter, keeping fans on the edge of their seats until the very last over.
Choosing to bat first, MI Women started strongly despite losing Sajeevan Sajana early for just 16 runs, as she was out lbw to Lauren Bell. This early wicket did little to hinder their progress, as Hayley Matthews stepped in and anchored the innings with confidence. She scored a fluent 56 off 39 balls, hitting nine boundaries, and her efforts helped establish a solid foundation for the team. Partnering with Nat Sciver-Brunt, who initially played defensively before ramping up the scoring, the two formed a pivotal 131-run partnership for the second wicket, which was crucial for MI’s innings.
After Matthews was dismissed at 147 in the 14.3 overs, Sciver-Brunt took center stage and didn’t look back. Harmanpreet Kaur provided quick runs, scoring 20 off 12 balls before she was out at 189 in the 18.4 overs. Sciver-Brunt continued to showcase her batting prowess, ultimately finishing with an unbeaten century off just 57 balls. Her remarkable 100* was a brilliant display of T20 batting, blending timing, power, and smart placement. With support from Amanjot Kaur and Amelia Kerr, MI Women finished strong at 199 for 4.
The bowlers from RCB Women had a mixed day. Lauren Bell was the standout performer, taking 2 wickets for 21 runs in her four overs, while Nadine de Klerk and Shreyanka Patil also grabbed a wicket each. However, the others, including Sayali Satghare, Arundhati Reddy, and Radha Yadav, struggled to contain the MI batters during the middle overs.
In reply, RCB Women’s chase started off poorly, with early wickets causing them to lose their rhythm. Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana, Georgia Voll, Gautami Naik, and Radha Yadav were all dismissed cheaply, leaving the team in a precarious position at 35 for 5 by the end of the powerplay. Amidst the turmoil, Richa Ghosh stood out, unleashing a counterattack that brought hopes back for RCB. She scored an explosive 90 runs off just 50 balls, smacking ten fours and sixes, and formed a crucial 107-run partnership with Nadine de Klerk, who contributed a valuable 28 off 20 balls.
As the required run rate climbed, MI Women’s bowlers remained composed under pressure. Hayley Matthews delivered a phenomenal performance, taking 3 wickets for a mere 10 runs in two overs. Shabnim Ismail also made critical breakthroughs with figures of 2 for 25, while Amelia Kerr and Amanjot Kaur chipped in with a couple of wickets. In the end, the match highlighted Nat Sciver-Brunt’s exceptional century and MI Women’s knack for capitalising on key moments with the ball.
Despite a valiant effort from Richa Ghosh, Mumbai Indians Women kept their nerves and secured a well-deserved victory, reinforcing their strong position in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) standings while demonstrating their impressive depth and match-winning capabilities.
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