Sports
Healy, bowlers power UP Warriorz to big win over Royal Challengers Bangalore
Alyssa Healy’s unbeaten 96 followed a clinical performance from the UP Warriorz bowlers as they registered a comprehensive 10 wicket victory to extend Royal Challengers Bangalore’s win-less run in the inaugural edition of the WPL. Sophie Ecclestone’s 4-13 and Deepti Sharma’s 3-26 helped UPW bowl RCB out for 138 despite Ellyse Perry’s half-century. The RCB bowlers were then left clueless as Healy struck 18 fours and 1 six in her 47-ball knock to help UPW race to the target in 13 overs as they recorded their second win in three games.
Healy powers UPW’s blistering start
Alyssa Healy helped UPW off to a flying start in the chase, striking eight out of the 10 fours that were scored in the powerplay to put RCB’s bowling attack in a spot again. Komal Zanzad and Shreyanka Patil conceded 46 runs between them in the four overs they bowled in the powerplay as UPW raced to 55 in the first six overs. While Healy was finding the fence regularly, Devika Vaidya provided good support rotating the strike while she also managed a couple of boundaries as UPW brought down the required rate to six.
Healy’s blitz leaves RCB stunned
Any hopes that RCB would have entertained of slowing down the scoring rate post the powerplay was put to rest by Healy who sent the bowlers on a leather hunt. The UPW skipper, who reached her first WPL fifty, getting there in 29 balls, followed it up with four successive boundaries off Renuka Singh. Erin Burns, who came in for Megan Schutt and was one of three changes RCB made, wasn’t spared either as Healy slammed a four and a six in successive balls, and then hit two fours off Perry in the 12th over. UPW needed 12 at that stage off eight overs and Healy needed 10 more for a three-figure score. But Devika’s four off Shreyanka put a dent on Healy’s prospects of becoming the first centurion of the WPL. She did get to 95 with a boundary off Shreyanka with one more needed for UPW. But the winning run turned out to be a single.
A positive start for RCB despite Mandhana’s failure
Grace Harris, back in the UPW eleven in place of Shabnim Ismail, was asked to bowl the first over given Smriti Mandhana’s struggles against off-spin. But Mandhana was happy to rotate strike and get Sophie Devine at the striker’s end as the New Zealander powered RCB’s brisk start after they opted to bat. She flayed a drive through the off side for a four followed by a six over mid wicket off Harris before striking two fours through the point region off Anjali Sarvani. Harris was struck for another four by Devine but the RCB skipper did not have a lengthy stay, dismissed for a 6-ball 4 by the left-arm spin of Rajeshwari Gayakwad, who conceded only one run in her opening over. Ellyse Perry got into the act with two fours off Sarvani before striking a six off Gayakwad coming down the track as RCB moved to 54/1 at the end of the powerplay.
Fifty for Perry but RCB lose the plot
Deepti Sharma started with a 13-run over which included two fours for Perry but Ecclestone was keeping it tight at the other end. She gave away only 10 runs in her first two overs and also picked up the important wicket of Devine, who missed a cut and was bowled for a 24-ball 36. With Harris bowling an economical third over, RCB moved to 81/2 at the halfway stage of their innings. They lost their third wicket soon after as Kanika Ahuja, looking to deposit a Deepti delivery over mid wicket, found the fielder in the deep while Heather Knight was run out. Perry then got to her maiden WPL fifty but a monumental collapse ensued as RCB lost the plot completely. Perry fell to Deepti attempting a slog sweep and in the same over Burns yorked herself to be bowled. Richa Ghosh’s run out followed in the next over while Ecclestone bagged the last two wickets in the final over as RCB were bowled out with three deliveries still remaining. From 116/4 in the 15th, they lost their last six wickets for the addition of only 22 runs to finish with a paltry total.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bangalore 138 in 19.3 overs (Ellyse Perry 52; Sophie Ecclestone 4-13, Deepti Sharma 3-26) lost to UP Warriorz 139/0 in 13 overs (Alyssa Healy 96*, Devika Vaidya 36*) by 10 wickets.