Nat Sciver-Brunt made history on Monday in Vadodara, smashing the first-ever century in the Women's Premier League (WPL). Her unbeaten 100 runs powered Mumbai Indians to a crucial 15-run victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Kotambi Stadium. The landmark innings, coming in the 82nd match of the league's fourth season, ended a long wait for a WPL centurion and boosted Mumbai's playoff aspirations.[cricket+4]
Sciver-Brunt's Dominant Performance
The England all-rounder arrived at the crease early in the innings after Mumbai Indians lost their first wicket with just 16 runs on the board.Sciver-Brunt then took control, scoring exactly 100 not out off just 57 balls. Her powerful knock included 16 fours and one six, showcasing a mix of consistent stroke play and aggressive hitting.She built a vital 131-run partnership for the second wicket with Hayley Matthews, who contributed 56 runs off 39 balls.This partnership helped Mumbai Indians post a formidable total of 199 for 4 in their 20 overs.[currentaffairs+15]
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Valiant Chase
Chasing a challenging target of 200, Royal Challengers Bengaluru faced an early collapse, losing five wickets for just 35 runs within the powerplay.Despite this setback, Richa Ghosh launched a spectacular counter-attack, scoring a whirlwind 90 runs off only 50 balls.Ghosh's innings, featuring 10 fours and six sixes, kept RCB in the hunt.However, the early damage proved too significant to overcome, and Bengaluru ultimately fell short, finishing at 184 for 9 in their 20 overs.Hayley Matthews also shone with the ball for Mumbai, taking 3 wickets for just 10 runs, including the crucial dismissals of RCB captain Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll.[cricket+9]
Playoff Hopes Reignited
This victory was crucial for the defending champions, Mumbai Indians, who had been struggling this season with only two wins from their previous six matches.The win ensures Mumbai Indians remain in contention for the playoffs, lifting them to second place in the points table with six points from seven matches, alongside Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Giants.Royal Challengers Bengaluru, despite starting their campaign with five consecutive wins, have now lost two matches in a row.While they remain league leaders, the loss delays their confirmation of a direct berth in the final.[indianexpress+5]
Ending the Century Drought
The WPL, which began in 2023, had seen many batters come close to the three-figure mark, but a century had remained elusive across 81 previous matches.Several players, including Georgia Voll (99 not out) and Sophie Devine (99), had fallen just short in earlier seasons.Sciver-Brunt's historic knock finally broke this century drought, setting a new benchmark for individual batting performances in the league.[olympics+13]
Reflecting on her achievement, Sciver-Brunt expressed her relief and happiness. "I'd seen a few players get out in the 90s, so I didn't want to replicate that," Sciver-Brunt said after her innings.She added, "It's my first T20 hundred, so I'm really happy to get over that milestone, and hopefully it's not the last."The England captain's performance underscored her importance to the Mumbai Indians side, consistently delivering crucial performances with both bat and ball.[hungamaexpress+3]
