The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) sealed another dominating 8-wicket victory against the Delhi Capitals led by skipper Meg Lanning in the 4th match of Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 at the Kotambi Stadium. Skipper Smriti Mandhana led by example by bringing up her career-best score in the WPL (81 off 47 balls), making light work of the run chase. Renuka Singh was awarded the Player of the Match for her career-best spell (4-0-23-3) in the WPL.
India U19 stars G Kamalini and Parunika Sisodia make their WPL debuts
The debutants continue to take centerstage in the WPL. Mumbai Indians handed the debut caps to the Indian under-19 superstars in the 16-year-old wicket-keeper batter G Kamalini, becoming the youngest player at 16 years and 213 days to make her debut at the Women’s Premier League (WPL). The 19-year-old left-arm spinner Parunika Sisodia was the other debutant for Mumbai Indians.
Harleen Deol and Kashvee Gautam lead Gujarat Giants scoring
Mumbai Indians skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s decision to insert the home side into bat first on winning the toss, paid off as the Giants were reduced to 43/5, losing half of their side, including the wickets of in-form skipper Ashleigh Gardner and Deandra Dottin inside the first nine overs of the innings. Kashvee Gautam joined Harleen Deol at the crease and the duo took their side past the 50-run mark with a much-needed 24-run partnership for the 6th wicket.
Kashvee Gautam led the charge with a quick-fire cameo (20 off 15 balls). Another vital 24-run partnership for the 8th wicket between Harleen Deol (32 off 31 balls) and Tanuja Kanwer (13 off 12 balls) propelled them past the 100-run mark, with the home side eventually bundled out for 120 in their quota of 20 overs. Hayley Matthews (4-0-16-3), Shabnim Ismail (4-1-17-1), Amelia Kerr (4-0-22-2), and Nat Sciver-Brunt (4-0-26-2) were the star performers with the ball for Mumbai Indians.
Nat Sciver-Brunt’s fifty leads the way as Mumbai register first season win
Chasing a target of 121, the Mumbai Indians openers Hayley Matthews and wicket-keeper batter Yastika Bhatia got their side off to a decent start with a 22-run opening partnership. Tanuja Kanwer provided the first breakthrough for the home side by removing Hayley Matthews (17 off 19 balls) in the 4th over of the run chase.
Another crucial 24-run partnership for the 2nd wicket between Nat Sciver-Brunt and wicket-keeper batter Yastika Bhatia took them closer to the 50-run mark. The Giants bowlers Priya Mishra and Kashvee Gautam bounced with a couple of wickets including the wicket of opposition skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. Amelia Kerr joined Nat Sciver-Brunt at the crease and the duo dented the Ashleigh Gardner-led side’s aspirations of scripting a remarkable fightback with a decisive 45-run partnership for the 4th wicket to take their side to the 100-run mark.
Kashvee Gautam bagged her 2nd scalp of the day by removing a well-set Amelia Kerr (19 off 20 balls) in the 15th over of the run chase. On the brink of a convincing victory, Nat Sciver-Brunt was cleaned up by Priya Mishra and she had to depart for a well-crafted half-century (57 off 39 balls), her 2nd in as many games for her side. Mumbai Indians eventually got over the line with 5 wickets in hand and 23 balls to spare.
S Sajana (10* off 6 balls) finished things off in style with a boundary, alongside Kamalini G (4* off 1). Kashvee Gautam (3-0-15-2) was the stand-out bowler for the home side, while Priya Mishra (4-0-40-2) also picked up a couple of wickets despite slightly being on the expensive side of things. The Giants ended their home run on a disappointing defeat to the inaugural champions.
Hayley Matthews was awarded the Player of the Match for her all-round contributions; 4-0-16-3 with the ball and 17 off 19 balls with the bat, including a catch in the field for her side. She played a crucial role in helping the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side register their first victory of the ongoing 3rd edition of the WPL.
Loves all things female cricket
