Royal Challengers Bangalore edged past UP Warriorz by a nail-biting margin of two runs in a thrilling Women's Premier League (WPL) encounter on Saturday. Set a modest target of 158, UPW fell agonizingly short despite a spirited chase, succumbing to a brilliant bowling performance led by Sobhana Asha's five-wicket haul.
Batting first, RCB endured early hiccups, losing three wickets within the first eight overs. However, a crucial fourth-wicket partnership between Sabbhineni Meghana (53) and Richa Ghosh (62) steadied the ship. The duo added a vital 71 runs, propelling RCB to a defendable total of 157/6. Meghana's composed 44-ball knock and Ghosh's aggressive 37-ball blitz proved pivotal. Rajeshwari Gayakwad was the pick of the bowlers for UPW, claiming two wickets for 24 runs.
Chasing 158, UPW lost their star captain Alyssa Healy cheaply. Dinesh Vrinda (18) and Tahlia McGrath (22) provided brief sparks, but their dismissals left the chase precariously balanced. Grace Harris (38) and Shweta Sehrawat (31) offered late hope with gritty knocks, but ultimately fell short, leaving UPW stranded at 155/7.
The turning point of the match arrived in the form of Sobhana Asha's exceptional bowling spell. The young spinner bamboozled the UPW batters, claiming five wickets for just 22 runs. Her economical bowling and crucial breakthroughs effectively choked the chase and secured a narrow yet crucial win for RCB.
Follow us
