Vadodara: Nat Sciver-Brunt's historic and unbeaten century powered Mumbai Indians (MI) to a crucial 15-run victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Women's Premier League (WPL) on Monday. In a must-win match for the defending champions to keep their playoff hopes alive, Sciver-Brunt etched her name in WPL history by becoming the first player to score a century in the league. Her remarkable innings of 100 not out off 57 balls propelled MI to a formidable total of 199 for 4 at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi, Vadodara.
The England all-rounder's record-breaking knock included 16 boundaries and one six, showcasing her dominance and control throughout the innings. Sciver-Brunt's performance was even more significant considering the pressure of the must-win situation, highlighting her composure and ability to perform under pressure.
Mumbai Indians' innings began with an early setback, as Sajeevan Sajana was dismissed for 7. However, Hayley Matthews joined Sciver-Brunt and the pair rebuilt the innings with a 131-run partnership off 73 balls. Matthews contributed a vital 56 off 39 balls, including rotating the strike effectively and unleashing a series of boundaries.
Following Matthews' dismissal, captain Harmanpreet Kaur added a quick 20 off 12 balls before being caught out. Sciver-Brunt continued her assault, reaching her century in the final over and setting a new benchmark for the highest individual score in the WPL. Before this, there had been 10 individual scores of 90-plus in the four seasons of the WPL.
Despite a strong start by MI, RCB found themselves struggling at 35 for 5 during the powerplay. Hayley Matthews, who earlier contributed with the bat, took two wickets in the fourth over, dismissing Smriti Mandhana (6) and Georgia Voll (9), followed by Radha Yadav (0).
RCB's Richa Ghosh mounted a stunning counter-attack, scoring a rapid 90 off 50 balls, including 10 fours and six sixes. However, despite Ghosh's efforts and a late surge that saw 43 runs scored in the last two overs, RCB ultimately fell short, finishing at 184 for 9. Shabnim Ismail (2/25) also contributed with the ball, removing Grace Harris (15) and Gautami Naik (1). Amelia Kerr also took two wickets for MI.
With this victory, Mumbai Indians have moved up to second place in the WPL standings, with six points from seven matches. Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Giants also have six points each from six matches, but MI's superior net run rate gives them the edge.
Sciver-Brunt's record-breaking century and the crucial win have significantly boosted Mumbai Indians' chances of qualifying for the playoffs and defending their WPL title. This was the fifth century-plus stand involving Sciver-Brunt in the WPL, further reinforcing her consistency and influence in the tournament. Her overall WPL record stands at 1346 runs in 35 matches.
