WPL: Banaglore succumb to fourth defeat after Alyssa Healy’s carnage
Royal Challengers Bangalore succumbed to their fourth successive loss in the Women’s Premier League after a demoralizing defeat against the UP Warriorz. Alyssa Healy’s side steamrolled their opponents, chasing a modest target of 139 runs. UP chased the target without losing a solitary wicket in just 13 overs. Healy and Devika Vaidya stiched together an unbeaten 139 run opening stand to take their side over the line.
Alyssa Healy was at her ravaging best against a hapless RCB bowling unit, smashing her half-century in just 29 balls. The total was never going to be a challenge for the UP Warriorz. Healy and her opening partner Devika Vaidya made an absolute mockery of the target set by the Bangalore-based outfit.
UP Warriorz won the game with seven overs to spare as their skipper went bonkers with the bat. The trailblazing opener missed out on an unprecedented century by just four runs. She returned unbeaten after smashing 96 runs off just 47 deliveries, the highest score by a batter in the tournament so far.
Royal Challengers Bangalore crumbled under pressure against Deepti Sharma and Sophie Ecclestone
Earlier in the match, Smriti Mandhana won the toss and elected to bat first at the Brabourne Stadium. Smriti’s woes with the bat continued as she was dismissed for a cheap score for a fourth successive time. The onus was on Ellyse Perry and Sophie Devine to ensure a strong start for their side after losing their skipper.
The experienced duo stitched together a counterattacking 44-run partnership. Ellyse Perry and Sophie Devine were threatening to take their side to a challenging total before the introduction of Sophie Ecclestone. The left-arm spinner dismissed the dangerous Devine to trigger an abysmal collapse from the RCB batters.
The dismissal of Perry for a 39-ball 52 dealt a severe blow to RCB’s hopes. She got out to Deepti Sharma in a double wicket over. Ecclestone continued to chip away at the wickets from the other end. She took four wickets and bowled out the Women in Red for 138 runs.
