The Women’s Premier League 2026 delivered another exciting contest in Vadodara on January 26. Mumbai Indians Women defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women by 15 runs in the 16th match of the season. Nat Sciver-Brunt was the star of the show. She smashed an unbeaten century to guide MI to a commanding total of 199/4. Despite a fighting 90 from Richa Ghosh, RCB fell short and finished at 184/9.
For MI, Hayley Matthews played a crucial supporting role with 56 runs from 39 balls. The bowling attack also delivered when it mattered most. Shabnim Ismail and Amelia Kerr shared five wickets between them, while Matthews chipped in with three wickets to seal the victory for the defending champions.
Match Summary: MI vs RCB
Here is the complete match summary of this high-scoring encounter:
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians Women Score | 199/4 (20 overs) |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women Score | 184/9 (20 overs) |
| Match Result | MI Women won by 15 runs |
| Best Batting (MI) | Nat Sciver-Brunt – 100* off 57 balls (16 fours, 1 six) |
| Best Batting (RCB) | Richa Ghosh – 90 off 50 balls (10 fours, 6 sixes) |
| Best Bowling (MI) | Hayley Matthews – 3/10 in 2 overs (Econ: 5.00) |
| Best Bowling (RCB) | Lauren Bell – 2/21 in 4 overs (Econ: 5.25) |
| Player of the Match | Nat Sciver-Brunt (MI) |
MI captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to bat first. The decision proved spot-on as the batting lineup fired on all cylinders. Sciver-Brunt anchored the innings with a stunning knock, while Matthews provided the early momentum.
Mumbai Indians Innings: 199/4 in 20 Overs
MI started strong with Hayley Matthews leading the charge. She scored 56 runs from 39 balls, hitting 9 fours and 2 sixes at a strike rate of 143.58. Matthews looked completely in control during her innings, setting the platform for what was to come.
Sajeevan Sajana fell early for 7 runs, dismissed lbw by Lauren Bell. This brought Nat Sciver-Brunt to the crease, and she never looked back. Sciver-Brunt played a masterclass innings, remaining unbeaten on 100 from just 57 balls. Her knock included 16 boundaries and one six, maintaining an impressive strike rate of 175.43.
The second wicket partnership between Matthews and Sciver-Brunt produced 131 runs in 61 balls. They took MI from 16/1 to 147/2, completely taking the game away from RCB. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur added a quick 20 from 12 balls before getting out to de Klerk. Amanjot Kaur contributed 4 runs, and Amelia Kerr remained not out on 1.
Lauren Bell was the pick of the RCB bowlers. She took 2 wickets for 21 runs in her 4 overs with an economy of 5.25. Nadine de Klerk and Shreyanka Patil picked up one wicket each. The other bowlers struggled to contain MI’s aggressive batting. Sayali Satghare went for 42 runs in her 4 overs, while Arundhati Reddy conceded 36 runs in 3 overs.
RCB Chase: 184/9 in 20 Overs
RCB’s chase got off to a disastrous start. They lost 5 wickets inside the powerplay for just 40 runs. Grace Harris fell for 15, Smriti Mandhana could only manage 6, Georgia Voll made 9, Gautami Naik scored 1, and Radha Yadav departed for a duck. The defending champions’ bowlers were relentless in the opening overs.
Shabnim Ismail set the tone early with her pace and bounce. She finished with 2 wickets for 25 runs in her 4 overs at an economy of 6.25. Hayley Matthews was equally devastating with her spin, grabbing 3 wickets for just 10 runs in 2 overs. Her spell broke the backbone of RCB’s top order.
When everything seemed lost at 35/5, Richa Ghosh launched a stunning counterattack. She smashed 90 runs from 50 balls, hitting 10 fours and 6 sixes at a remarkable strike rate of 180.00. Ghosh found support from Nadine de Klerk, who scored 28 from 20 balls with 3 fours and 1 six.
The sixth wicket partnership between Ghosh and de Klerk added 52 runs, taking RCB from 35/5 to 77/6. They brought hope back into the RCB camp and kept the chase alive. However, MI’s bowling depth proved too strong in the end.
Arundhati Reddy chipped in with 14 runs from 18 balls. But regular wickets kept falling at crucial moments. Amanjot Kaur picked up a key wicket, while Amelia Kerr took 2 wickets for 37 runs. Shreyanka Patil stayed not out on 12 from 5 balls, but it was too little too late.
Player of the Match: Nat Sciver-Brunt Delivers a Masterclass
The England all-rounder put in a match-winning performance with the bat. Her unbeaten 100 off 57 balls was the difference between the two sides. Sciver-Brunt reached her fifty off just 32 balls and never slowed down. She accelerated in the death overs, ensuring MI posted a total well beyond 190.
Her innings included 16 fours and 1 six. She found the gaps consistently and punished anything in her zone. At the innings break, MI sat on 199/4, a total that proved too steep for RCB despite Ghosh’s heroics. Sciver-Brunt’s knock was the highest individual score in WPL 2026 so far.
Conclusion: What This Result Means
MI Women strengthened their position in the WPL 2026 points table with this 15-run victory. The defending champions showed their depth in both batting and bowling departments. Sciver-Brunt’s century and Matthews’ all-round contribution highlighted their squad strength.
RCB Women will take positives from Richa Ghosh’s fighting knock. Her 90 almost pulled off an impossible chase. However, the early collapse in the powerplay cost them dearly. They will need their top order to step up in future matches.
This match showcased the quality of cricket in WPL 2026. A century from Sciver-Brunt, a near-match-winning knock from Ghosh, and tight bowling spells made it an entertaining contest for fans in Vadodara.
