Cricket News

‘We are still in the hunt’- Fans react as RCB beat UP Warriorz by 23 runs in WPL clash

After losing a couple of games on the trot, Smriti Mandhana’s Royal Challengers Bangalore have got back to winning ways courtesy of a 23-run win over the UP Warriorz today. RCB lost […]

Mar 4, 2024 11:19 pm

After losing a couple of games on the trot, Smriti Mandhana’s Royal Challengers Bangalore have got back to winning ways courtesy of a 23-run win over the UP Warriorz today.

RCB lost the toss and were put in to bat first by the opposition skipper, Alyssa Healy. RCB posted a formidable total of 198 runs in the first innings thanks to half-centuries by Mandhana and Ellyse Perry and a superb cameo by the young Richa Ghosh.

Initially, the openers, Mandhana and Sabbhineni Meghana laid a strong foundation with a 51-run stand. After the dismissal of Meghana, Mandhana and Perry shared a 95-run stand which played a pivotal role in lifting the team to a good score. Mandhana ended up with 80 off 50 balls, striking 10 boundaries and 3 maximums along the way. Perry, on the other hand, made 58 off 37 deliveries with 4 boundaries and as many sixes. Richa Ghosh added the finishing touches, smashing 21 runs during her 10-ball stay at the crease. For UP, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, and Grace Harris bowled well but the others were taken to the cleaners.

UP fall short despite Healy’s fifty!

In response, the UP Warriorz put up a total of 175 runs in their 20 overs. Alyssa Healy top-scored with 55 runs, while Deepti Sharma (33) and Poonam Khemnar (31) also chipped in with valuable contributions.

The UP Warriorz innings got off to a decent start with Healy and Kiran Navgire putting on a 47-run partnership for the first wicket. However, they lost wickets at regular intervals after that and were never really able to build on their start. Despite the regular loss of wickets, the UP Warriorz were able to keep the scoreboard ticking thanks to some handy contributions from the middle order. Deepti Sharma and Poonam Khemnar added a 41-run partnership for the sixth wicket, which helped to take the UP Warriorz to a respectable total. In the end, the UP Warriorz fell short of the target by 23 runs.

Here’s a look at how ‘X-verse’ reacted to RCB’s win in front of their home crowd: