Mandhana, captain fantastic

Bengaluru, March 4

Engaging fifties by skipper Smriti Mandhana and star all-rounder Ellyse Perry formed the foundation of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s convincing 23-run win over UP Warriorz in their Women’s Premier League match here today.

Mandhana (80 off 50 balls, with 10 fours and 3 sixes) and Perry (58 off 37 balls, with 4 fours and 4 sixes) added 95 runs off just 64 balls for the second wicket as Royal Challengers made a formidable 198/3.

“After the last two matches, we were under the pump. We had to come out today and get going. Losing the toss did not help but that was the chat — that the intent has to be right from the start,” Mandhana, who was named the Player of the Match, said.

The Warriorz’s chase did not have much to write home about except for a fifty by captain Alyssa Healy (55 off 38 balls, with 7 fours and 3 sixes) as it ended at 175/8.

“Chasing 198, we knew they were going to go hard. At different times, different bowlers took up the pressure and got us the breakthroughs,” Mandhana said.

This was also the last game of WPL’s Bengaluru leg as the caravan now rolls on to New Delhi.

Brief scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore: 198/3 in 20 overs (Mandhana 80, Perry 58; Ecclestone 1/22); UP Warriorz: 175/8 in 20 overs (Healy 55, Deepti 33; Devine 2/37, Asha 2/29).