Handing Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) their second defeat of the season, Mumbai Indians (MI) secured a 15-run victory on the back of a sensational century from England all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt, who rewrote the record books with the first-ever hundred in Women’s Premier League (WPL) history.
Desperate for a win, MI found their saviour in Sciver-Brunt, who produced a commanding unbeaten 100* off 57 balls, laced with 16 fours and a six, delivering when her team needed it most.
The landmark knock made her the first player to score a century in WPL history and took her to the top of the run charts this season, with 319 runs in six innings at an average of 79.75, including one century and three fifties.
In the mid-innings chat with the broadcasters, Nat Sciver-Brunt said,
“I’ve seen a few players get out in the 90s, so I didn’t want to replicate that. But I also wanted to get as many runs for the team. Really pleased that we could get up to that total, personally really happy as well.”
Sciver-Brunt also became the first batter to register 300-plus runs in three different WPL editions. Her most prolific season came last year, when she played a key role in MI’s title triumph, amassing 523 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate of over 152, with five half-centuries and a best score of 80*.
She has now cemented her status as the most accomplished batter in WPL history, with 1,346 runs in 35 matches at an average of 51.76, including one century and 11 fifties—the most fifty-plus scores by any player in the tournament. Coupled with her two WPL titles and a Player of the Tournament award last season, Sciver-Brunt has emerged as the most decorated player in the league’s history.
With five century partnerships to her name, Sciver-Brunt is also involved in the most 100-plus stands in WPL history. Meg Lanning, Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana and Hayley Matthews follow with four each.
Earlier, RCB won the toss and opted to bowl first. After striking early, they watched Sciver-Brunt and Hayley Matthews (56 off 39 balls, with nine fours) stitch together a decisive 131-run partnership for the second wicket. MI skipper Harmanpreet Kaur added quick runs with a 20-ball 12, contributing to a 42-run stand.
MI finished on an imposing 199/4, with Lauren Bell (2/21 in four overs) emerging as RCB’s most successful bowler.
In response, RCB put up a spirited chase, led by Richa Ghosh, who remained unbeaten on 90 off 50 balls. However, despite her valiant effort, RCB fell short as MI sealed a 15-run win.