HIGHLIGHTS RCB vs MI WPL 2026 Match 16 - Result, Scorecard

Welcome back for the run chase. The MI players scatter out of the huddle and take their respective positions on the field. Smriti Mandhana and Grace Harris walk out as the opening pair for RCB. And as usual, it will be Shabnim Ismail to bowl the opening over. Searching for runs, it will be Grace Harris to take the strike. A slip in place. Here we go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

So it is exactly 200 for RCB to get back to winning ways. Their bowling has come under the scanner just when the playoffs are knocking on the door. Mumbai Indians have lost three on the bounce and this is just like a must-win game for them to keep their playoff hopes alive. It will be a big test for their bowling unit against a powerpacked RCB batting unit. Should be an interesting chase. Back in a bit. Stay tuned.

And the woman of the moment, NAT SCIVER-BRUNT, is in for a quick chat - She also wears the Orange Cap as she is now the leading run scorer of this season. She says that she has seen a few players who stayed in the nineties, so she wanted to get to her century. Adds that the partnership with Hayley was excellent, and they had a powerful batting lineup, so they are happy with what they have achieved. On her celebration, Nat Sciver-Brunt smiles and shyly dedicates the milestone to her wife, Katherine Sciver-Brunt, who is probably asleep at home but whom she hopes is watching. She mentions that Kat really wanted her to reach triple figures. Reflecting on the achievement, Sciver-Brunt says it is her first T20 hundred and expresses her happiness at crossing the milestone, adding that she hopes it is not her last. On Mumbai Indians’ total of 199, Sciver-Brunt notes that after losing so many tosses this season, it feels great to put up a strong score. She also stresses that the bowlers will need to perform well, given RCB’s deep batting lineup.

Mumbai Indians scored 112/1 in that 7-15 over phase, as RCB were pushed into a reactive mode, constantly shuffling the field as the pair dictated terms with ease. Both brought up deserved half centuries, and although Bell eventually snapped their 131-run stand, the damage was done. The stage was perfectly set for a late surge, with Sciver-Brunt batting in a different orbit altogether and Harmanpreet Kaur providing the ideal support at the other end. With Sciver-Brunt finally ending the century drought in the WPL, MI finished on 199 on the board.

Mumbai Indians’ biggest headache this season has been their Powerplay batting, and this outing followed the same worrying script. They have the slowest run rate in the first six overs, with their opening stand barely averaging a tick above 20, and Sajana’s early dismissal only deepened the sense of deja vu. The RCB bowlers tightened the screws once again, mainly through Bell, leaving MI crawling to 38/1 at the end of the Powerplay. Then came the turnaround. Nat Sciver-Brunt and a run-hungry Hayley Matthews stitched together a superb recovery, built more on clarity and class. There was no blind slogging, just smart cricket. They absorbed the pressure, waited for the bowlers to err, and cashed in whenever the bowlers missed their lengths. Once set, the tempo lifted sharply through the middle overs as boundaries began to flow with reassuring regularity.

Mumbai Indians may have remained one shy of 200, but the Women's Premier League's wait is over for its first centurion, finally. It was a matter of when, and the question was who? And it was answered by Nat Sciver-Brunt. In a knock of the highest class, she stayed unbeaten on 100 from just 57 deliveries, blending authority with elegance throughout. Her innings powered Mumbai Indians into a commanding position at the halfway stage and gave the league a moment it had been waiting for eagerly.

Shreyanka Patil to Amelia Kerr, Much fuller, outside off, Amelia Kerr lifts it towards long off for a single. Nat Sciver-Brunt wanted a second run but Amelia Kerr sent her back. Mumbai Indians end their innings at 199 runs.

Last ball coming up. Can MI get past 200? Amelia Kerr walks in at number 6.

Shreyanka Patil to Amanjot Kaur, OUT! TIMBER! Shreyanka Patil gets a wicket on her name. Flatter, on off, and it skids through. Amanjot Kaur looks to loft it but misses it completely as the ball hits the timber. Amanjot Kaur walks back into the shed.

Shreyanka Patil to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hundred up for Nat Sciver-Brunt! What a brilliant knock this has been. She also becomes the first batter to score a century in WPL! Nice and full, on off, Nat Sciver-Brunt knocks it down the ground for a single. Fittingly, the first century has been scored by the highest run-getter in the history of this competition. She raises her bat towards the dugout, her teammates, and even her family, which includes her wife and son. This is truly a moment to savour and her knock will be remembered for a long, long time.

Shreyanka Patil to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Keeps it full, on leg, Nat Sciver-Brunt looks to flick it but gets a bottom edge as the ball rolls to the left of the keeper. Dot. Nat Sciver-Brunt stays in 99 for now!

Shreyanka Patil to Amanjot Kaur, Full, on leg, Amanjot Kaur taps it to cover for a quick single. The fielder throws it towards the keeper but Nat Sciver-Brunt makes it in the crease comfortably.

Shreyanka Patil to Amanjot Kaur, Nice and full, on off, Amanjot Kaur drills it down the ground for a brace. Excellent running between the wickets. The fielder dives to her left and makes a brilliant stop in the deep. Saves two runs for her team.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, FOUR! Finds the gap! Much fuller, outside off, Nat Sciver-Brunt stays back and steers it through cover-point. The fielder, Arundhati, dives to her left to stop the boundary but fails to do so. Nat Sciver-Brunt moves to 99 now!

Nadine De Klerk to Amanjot Kaur, Slower one, on off, Amanjot Kaur flicks it to mid on for a single.

The 42-run partnership is broken for the third wicket. Amanjot Kaur walks in at number 5.

Nadine De Klerk to Harmanpreet Kaur, OUT! TAKEN! Nadine De Klerk has the last laugh. On a length, outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur stays back and looks to go down the ground. Gets it off the toe end of her bat as the ball carries towards long off. Georgia Voll settles under it and completes the catch. A quickfire 20 off 12 for Harmanpreet Kaur. Mumbai Indians are 189/3.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Keeps it full, on leg, Nat Sciver-Brunt flicks it through mid on for a single.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, FOUR! Nat Sciver-Brunt moves to 94 now! Nice and full, outside off, Nat Sciver-Brunt leans on and cracks a drive through wide of mid off for a boundary.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Too full, on off, Nat Sciver-Brunt pushes it to point.

Sayali Satghare to Harmanpreet Kaur, FOUR MORE! Back-to-back boundaries from Harmanpreet Kaur! Length again, outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur stays back and steers it through cover-point for yet another boundary.

Sayali Satghare to Harmanpreet Kaur, FOUR! Excellent from the skipper! On a length, outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur stays in her crease and chips it over extra cover for a boundary.

Sayali Satghare to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Full, on middle, Nat Sciver-Brunt chips it over mid on for a single. She gets into her 90s!

Sayali Satghare to Nat Sciver-Brunt, FOUR! Top shot from Nat Sciver-Brunt! Much fuller, outside off, Nat Sciver-Brunt goes down on one knee and clatters it over extra cover for a boundary.

Sayali Satghare to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Too full, on middle, Nat Sciver-Brunt drills it down the ground. The fielder fumbles in the deep, which allows the batters to collect two runs. The umpire checks for a short run and replays show that it was a fair run, though initially it looked like Kaur's bat was in the air for a bit. Two runs it is.

Sayali Satghare to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Much fuller, outside off, Nat Sciver-Brunt drives it to cover for a single.

Nadine De Klerk to Harmanpreet Kaur, A low full toss, on off, Harmanpreet Kaur gets down on one knee and slogs it over square leg for a brace. Good work in the deep by Radha Yadav, who runs to her right from deep mid-wicket and dives full-length to cut it off.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Too full, on off, Nat Sciver-Brunt digs it down the ground for a single.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, FOUR! The onslaught continues from Nat Sciver-Brunt! That was cheeky. Full, outside off, Nat Sciver-Brunt picks it well and scoops it over short third for a boundary.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Wide! Goes way outside off, Nat Sciver-Brunt leaves. Wided.

Nadine De Klerk to Harmanpreet Kaur, A low full toss, outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur drives it to cover for a single.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Keeps it full, on off, Nat Sciver-Brunt slogs it over mid-wicket for just a single. Good fielding in the deep.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Nice and full, outside off, Nat Sciver-Brunt tries to drive it but misses.

STRATEGIC BREAK. Going about at almost 10s an over, Mumbai Indians are well and truly on course for a total in excess of 200. The platform has been perfectly laid by Matthews and Sciver-Brunt through that middle phase as MI smashed 112 runs in that 7-15 over phase. It’s a surface made for batting and if RCB are to keep Mumbai under that mark, it would count as a significant win. For now though, everything hinges on breaking this partnership.

Sayali Satghare to Harmanpreet Kaur, Beaten! Much fuller, outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur swings hard but misses.

Sayali Satghare to Harmanpreet Kaur, Keeps it full again, on off, Harmanpreet Kaur pushes it to the cover fielder.

Sayali Satghare to Harmanpreet Kaur, Nice and full, on off, Harmanpreet Kaur drives it to cover. A misfield allows the batters to collect two runs. That should have been a dot.

Sayali Satghare to Harmanpreet Kaur, A low full toss, on off, Harmanpreet Kaur pushes it to mid off.

Sayali Satghare to Harmanpreet Kaur, SIX! The skipper gets the crowd on their toes! Sayali Satghare goes fuller, outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur stays in her crease and powers it over long off for a biggie.

Sayali Satghare to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Nice and full, on off, Nat Sciver-Brunt knocks it to long on for a single.

Lauren Bell to Nat Sciver-Brunt, An off-pace delivery, full and outside off, Nat Sciver-Brunt slaps it to deep point for a single. 150 up for Mumbai Indians!

Lauren Bell to Nat Sciver-Brunt, WIDE! Miles outside the off stump, beyond the tramline. Left alone.

Lauren Bell to Harmanpreet Kaur, Outside off, on a length, Kaur plays off the back foot and taps it between cover and point for a single. Gets off the mark, does the MI skipper.

Lauren Bell to Harmanpreet Kaur, Full and on off, Kaur with a solid front foot defence to the cover region.

The partnership is finally broken. Can they put a lid on the scoring rate now? Let's see. The skipper, Harmanpreet Kaur, walks in to bat.

Lauren Bell to Hayley Matthews, OUT! BOWLED! Who else but Bell? She breaks the 131-run partnership for the second wicket. Bell sees Hayley shuffling outside off and fires in full just outside off, following the batter. Matthews shapes up for a big slog, misses by a whisker as the ball cannons off the pads and smashes into the stumps behind. Bell is up in celebration. Matthews falls for a well-constructed 56 off 39 balls. Mumbai are 147/2 after 14.3 overs.

Lauren Bell to Hayley Matthews, Slowish delivery, full and far outside off. Matthews shuffles a bit too across, and opts to leave. Not given as a wide.

Lauren Bell to Hayley Matthews, FOUR! Easy pickings! A juicy full toss, outside off, asking to be hit. Matthews frees her arms and slices it past the backward point fielder's left for a boundary.

Arundhati Reddy to Hayley Matthews, Full and straight, around off, Matthews plays off the back foot and knocks it down to long off for a single.

Arundhati Reddy to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Full, on off, Nat drills it across to widish long on for a single.

Arundhati Reddy to Nat Sciver-Brunt, EDGED, FOUR! Good length outside off at 98.7 kph. Sciver-Brunt drives on instinct, trying to work it away, but the outside edge flies past Bell to her left and races away to the deep third fence.

Arundhati Reddy to Hayley Matthews, Shortish, on off, Hayley pulls off the back foot to deep square leg for a single.

Arundhati Reddy to Hayley Matthews, FIVE WIDES! Bonus runs for MI! Good length down the leg side. Matthews makes room, Reddy tries to follow but drifts it well down leg and Ghosh has no chance to cut it off. The ball races away to the deep fine leg fence.

Arundhati Reddy to Hayley Matthews, FOUR! FIFTY FOR HAYLEY MATTHEWS! This is her first half century this season. She was in desperate need of runs and she has picked the best occasion to get back in form. Hurls it full and outside off, Matthews clears the front leg and launches it over mid off. The ball is racing away to the fence. It’s her sixth half century in the WPL.

Arundhati Reddy to Hayley Matthews, FOUR! Off the edge. Short and outside off, Hayley rocks back to punch it away, but gets a thick outside edge and the ball squirrels away to the deep third fence for four more.

Radha Yadav to Nat Sciver-Brunt, FOUR! Into the gap again! Full and outside off at 81 kph. Sciver-Brunt drops to one knee and sweeps it hard to deep square leg for a boundary. 16 runs off the over!

Radha Yadav to Hayley Matthews, Dropped short, outside off, Hayley backs away and punches it to deep cover for a single.

Radha Yadav to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Full, around the pads, whipped to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Radha Yadav to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Full and tossed up outside off at 84.6 kph. NSB looks to sweep, but gets a top edge down to deep third man and they take two. 100-run partnership comes up between these two.

Radha Yadav to Nat Sciver-Brunt, FOUR! You cannot bowl her there! Serves it full, wide outside off, Sciver-Brunt leans on the front foot, and lofts it over cover for another boundary, beating long off's chase to her left.

Radha Yadav to Nat Sciver-Brunt, FOUR! PUNISHED! Around the wicket. Full and tossed up outside off. NSB clears the front leg, heaves it to the left of deep mid-wicket, beats the fielder and finds the fence.

Shreyanka Patil to Hayley Matthews, FOUR! Up and over! These two are just toying around with the field now and Smriti has been forced to react to the shots. Full, outside off, Matthews smashes it over extra cover for a cracking boundary.

Shreyanka Patil to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Full and in front of the stumps, an off break that spins in, Sciver-Brunt slogs it to deep square leg for a single.

Shreyanka Patil to Nat Sciver-Brunt, FOUR! Just brilliant batting! Pitched fuller, around off, Sciver-Brunt gets on her knee and lofts it cleanly over mid off for a boundary. That's three in a row for Sciver-Brunt. 100 UP FOR MUMBAI INDIANS!

Shreyanka Patil to Nat Sciver-Brunt, FOUR! FIFTY FOR SCIVER-BRUNT! Off 32 balls. This is her 4th half century this season. Another knock of high quality.  On the off pole or thereabouts. She picks it early, as she so often does, and thumps it towards square leg for a boundary to get to her milestone.

Shreyanka Patil to Nat Sciver-Brunt, FOUR! That's a brilliant shot from Nat Sciver-Brunt! Fuller, on middle and leg, Nat Sciver-Brunt gets low and sweeps it through square leg for a boundary.

Shreyanka Patil to Hayley Matthews, Flatter, on off, Hayley Matthews flicks it to the right of the bowler. She dives to her right and makes a good stop. The ball rolls towards mid on as the batters collect a single.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Fractionally short, outside off, Nat is forced to reach at it and ends up chopping it to the cover-point region.

Nadine De Klerk to Hayley Matthews, Full again, on the pads, this is flicked to the deep mid-wicket region for a single.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Full, on leg, Nat tugs it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, FOUR! Top shot! Lands it on a length, on middle and leg, Nat plays off the back foot, pulls it perfectly through the deep square leg and deep mid-wicket gap for a cracking boundary.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, SIX! LAUNCHED! Nadine lands it right into the slot, full and on off, Nat Sciver-Brunt gets on a knee and just effortlessly slogs it over deep mid-wicket for a six. That's the first of the evening.

Nadine De Klerk to Hayley Matthews, Pitched short and on off, Hayley heaves it to long on for a single.

Halfway through the first innings. These two seem to have settled really nicely now. Nadine De Klerk replaces Arundhati Reddy.

Radha Yadav to Hayley Matthews, Short, on off, Hayley Matthews punches it to mid off for a single.

Radha Yadav to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Much fuller again, on off, Nat Sciver-Brunt drills it to long off for just a single.

Radha Yadav to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Too full, on off, Nat Sciver-Brunt digs it back to the bowler.

Radha Yadav to Hayley Matthews, Short, on off, Hayley Matthews knocks it down the ground for a single.

Radha Yadav to Hayley Matthews, FOUR! Top shot from Hayley Matthews! Flatter, on off, Hayley Matthews stays back in her crease and punches it through cover-point for a boundary.

Radha Yadav to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Top full, on off, Nat Sciver-Brunt flicks it to mid on for a single.

STRATEGIC BREAK. At the end of the Powerplay, MI looked under tremendous pressure, with just 38/1 on the board. But the next three overs have gone for 30 runs, with this partnership worth 52 runs. They have arrested the collapse and have batted beautifully. It hasn't been hammer and tongs, but they have ensured that the dot-ball percentage stays low. RCB would aim to break this stand as quickly as possible and push MI back to reconstruct. And with that, Radha Yadav is introduced into the attack now.

Arundhati Reddy to Hayley Matthews, FOUR! That's a poor delivery! Arundhati Reddy errs her line down the leg side, Hayley Matthews uses the pace of the ball and tickles it through fine leg. The fielder chases but the ball wins the race.

Arundhati Reddy to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Nice and full, on leg, Nat Sciver-Brunt flicks it to wide of mid on for a single.

Arundhati Reddy to Hayley Matthews, Just short! Length, outside off, Hayley Matthews looks to loft it but edges it to short third. The ball lands just short of Lauren Bell who dives to her left and makes a good stop. Just a single.

Arundhati Reddy to Hayley Matthews, FOUR! Perfectly placed! On a length, outside off, Hayley Matthews stays in her crease and steers it in the gap through backward point for a magnificent boundary.

Arundhati Reddy to Hayley Matthews, On a length, outside off, and it stays low. Hayley Matthews looks to slap it but gets a bottom edge as the ball rolls to the right of the bowler. Dot.

Arundhati Reddy to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Nice and full, outside off, Nat Sciver-Brunt knocks it to long on for a single.

19 runs in the last 2 overs for Mumbai Indians. They are gradually gaining momentum here. Also, we missed it. Grace Harris is off the field for now, but she seems geared up to be back on. Arundhati Reddy is back on. 1-0-5-0 so far, and she replaces Nadine De Klerk.

Shreyanka Patil to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Flatter, on leg, Nat Sciver-Brunt flicks it to mid-wicket for a single.

Shreyanka Patil to Nat Sciver-Brunt, FOUR! Nat Sciver-Brunt is gearing up! Slower one, outside off, Nat Sciver-Brunt stays in her crease and slaps it magnificently through cover-point for a boundary.

Shreyanka Patil to Hayley Matthews, Short, just outside off, Hayley Matthews punches it through covers for a single.

Shreyanka Patil to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Short, on off, Nat Sciver-Brunt knocks omit down the ground for a single.

Shreyanka Patil to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Quicker, on off, Nat Sciver-Brunt eases it back to the bowler.

Shreyanka Patil to Nat Sciver-Brunt, FOUR! You cannot give that width to Nat Sciver-Brunt! Flatter, outside off, Nat Sciver-Brunt reaches out to it and punches it in the gap through cover for a boundary. 50 UP FOR MI!

Time for spin now. Here's Shreyanka Patil into the attack. She replaces Arundhati Reddy.

Nadine De Klerk to Hayley Matthews, Back of a length, on off, Hayley Matthews hops a bit and punches it but finds the fielder at cover. Dot to end the over.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Back of a length, on off, Nat Sciver-Brunt looks to pull it but doesn't connect well. The ball slowly rolls towards long on as the batters collect a single.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, FOUR! MI needs to gear up! On a length, just outside off, Nat Sciver-Brunt makes room and chips it over mid off for a boundary.

Nadine De Klerk to Hayley Matthews, Slower again, sliding down leg, Hayley Matthews looks to flick it but the ball hits his pads and rolls towards mid-wicket. They collect a leg bye.

Nadine De Klerk to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Good length, on middle and leg, Nat Sciver-Brunt helps it to fine leg for a single.

Nadine De Klerk to Hayley Matthews, Slower one, just outside off, Hayley Matthews punches it to point for a single.

Whose Powerplay was it then? Mumbai or Bengaluru? Restricting MI to just about run-a-ball is a win for RCB. Because for Mumbai, this particular phase, meaning, the Powerplay phase, has been their weakest link this season. Yet again, they couldn't make the most of it. But losing only one wicket, they have the cushion to accelerate in this middle phase with wickets in hand. Okay then, as the field spreads, Nadine De Klerk is brought into the attack, replacing Lauren Bell.

Arundhati Reddy to Hayley Matthews, Hard length, on leg, Hayley Matthews tucks it to backward square leg for a single.

Arundhati Reddy to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Nice and full, on off, Nat Sciver-Brunt looks to flick it but gets a leading edge as the ball goes towards short third. They collect a single.

Arundhati Reddy to Hayley Matthews, Goes fuller this time, on middle, Hayley Matthews stays in her crease and flicks it to mid-wicket for a single.

Arundhati Reddy to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Slightly shorter again, on middle, Nat Sciver-Brunt pulls it through backward square leg for another single.

Arundhati Reddy to Hayley Matthews, Back of a length, on middle and leg, Hayley Matthews pulls it on the bounce towards deep square leg for a single.

Arundhati Reddy to Hayley Matthews, Slower one, on off, Hayley Matthews pushes it to the right of the bowler. Arundhati Reddy starts with a dot.

Richa Ghosh looks a bit uncomfortable as something has gotten into her eyes. It is her right eye, and the physio is out to tend to her. It seems fine now. Also, there's a bowling change from this end. Arundhati Reddy to round up the Powerplay. She replaces Sayali.

Lauren Bell to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Touch full and on the stumps, Sciver-Brunt mistimes the straight drive off the inner half and Bell half stops it with her right hand on the follow-through.

Lauren Bell to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Fuller and around off, Sciver-Brunt shimmies down a bit and works it to mid off.

Lauren Bell to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Speared onto the pads, on a shorter length. Nat tries to whip it across but gets hit on the thigh pad as the ball lobs away to the point region.

Lauren Bell to Nat Sciver-Brunt, On a fuller length, on middle, drilled across to short mid-wicket. Voll gets a bad bounce and parries the ball to the mid on fielder.

Lauren Bell to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Excellent work by Smith in the deep! Length ball, outside off, shaping away, Nat Sciver-Brunt punches it crisply to deep cover. Linsey Smith from deep point runs across to her left and slides to cut it off. Two taken.

Lauren Bell to Hayley Matthews, Fuller and outside off, swinging away. Matthews drives it square on the off side, to deep point for a single.

Change from the other end? Or will Bell get third over on the trot? She will. 2-0-11-1 so far.

Sayali Satghare to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Skids through the deck, swinging into the batter. Nat goes deep inside the crease and heaves it between deep mid-wicket and deep square leg for a couple of quick runs. 10 runs from the over.

Sayali Satghare to Hayley Matthews, A touch short, on middle, Hayley hangs back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Sayali Satghare to Hayley Matthews, FOUR! Poor line and gets the treatment! Slides one down the leg stump, does Sayali. On a fuller length. Hayley uses the pace and whips it to the long leg fence for a boundary.

Sayali Satghare to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Much fuller than the previous delivery, curving on the pads. Sciver-Brunt flicks it through mid-wicket for an easy single.

Sayali Satghare to Hayley Matthews, Back of a length, on leg, Matthews stays back and dinks it to widish mid on for a single.

Sayali Satghare to Hayley Matthews, Shapes in from outside off, on a length. Hayley nudges it to mid on using soft hands.

Sayali Satghare to Hayley Matthews, WIDE! Far down leg, on a length. Hayley ignores. Richa collects it to her left sharply.

Lauren Bell to Nat Sciver-Brunt, FOUR! She is up and running! A low full toss, around off, Nat drives it straight down the ground, bisecting mid on and mid off to perfection and picks up her first boundary.

Lauren Bell to Nat Sciver-Brunt, On a back of a length, on top of off, Nat hangs back and tucks it to short mid-wicket.

Lauren Bell to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Full and around middle, worked to mid on with soft hands.

Lauren Bell to Nat Sciver-Brunt, Too full, on the stumps, carved out to mid on.

MI under early pressure as Sajana walks back. Nat Sciver-Brunt is in at number 3.

Lauren Bell to Sajana Sajeevan, OUT! LBW! Bell gets the first breakthrough and once again, MI's opening partnership fails to produce a strong start. Fractionally full and nipping into the batter, Sajana tries to flick it across the line, but misses to connect and gets pinged on the front pad. RCB go up in appeal as one and the umpire obliges. Sajana has a brief chat with Matthews, but decides not to take the review. Sajeevan departs on 7 (7) and Mumbai Indians are 16/1.

Lauren Bell to Sajana Sajeevan, Stays a bit low on the bounce, on a length, outside off, shaping away. Sajana shapes to slice it through point, but misses.

Sayali Satghare to Sajana Sajeevan, In and around the leg stump line, Sajana gets on the front foot and steers it to deep square leg for a single.

Sayali Satghare to Sajana Sajeevan, FOUR! Finds the gap to perfection! A bit too short and wide on off. Sajana frees her arms and square cuts it through the backward point and cover gap for a boundary.

Sayali Satghare to Hayley Matthews, Touch short, on middle and leg, Matthews gets across and chips it over wide mid on for a single.

Sayali Satghare to Sajana Sajeevan, Good length, on the stumps, this is tucked behind square on the leg side for a single.

Sayali Satghare to Hayley Matthews, Shortish in length, on top of middle. Hayley turns it off the back foot through backward square leg for a single.

Sayali Satghare to Sajana Sajeevan, On a length, angled at the pads, Sajana misses to nudge it away and gets hit on the thigh pad. The ball then rolls to the leg side, behind square and they get a leg bye.

That was an excellent opening over from Lauren Bell. It will be Sayali Satghare to share the attack from the opposite end.

Lauren Bell to Hayley Matthews, Edged, but does not carry! Fuller ball, curving away from off, Matthews pushes hard at it to drive in front, but gets a fat outside edge. The ball dips and yorks Radha Yadav's fingers, who dives forward to scoop it.

Lauren Bell to Sajana Sajeevan, Short of a length, outside off, Sajana rises with the bounce and dabs it past the diving short third fielder for a single.

Lauren Bell to Hayley Matthews, On a good length, on the stumps, Matthews clips it to deep square leg for a single.

Lauren Bell to Hayley Matthews, BEATEN! That's an absolute beauty. With the seam positioned toward the first or maybe, second slip, Bell lands it on a good length, on the top of the off pole. Matthews plays inside the line to defend and the ball zips past the outside edge, passing scarily close to the top of off.

Lauren Bell to Hayley Matthews, WIDE! Drifts one down leg, on a length. Matthews misses the flick. Wide called.

Lauren Bell to Hayley Matthews, BEATEN! Nice comeback by Bell. Swings one away from the right-hander, full in length, outside off. Matthews is tempted to play the cover drive, but does not quite get to the pitch of the ball and misses to connect.

Lauren Bell to Hayley Matthews, FOUR! Top start! On a back of a length, on middle and leg. Matthews hangs back, waits on it and pulls it to deep square leg for a boundary.

All in readiness for Match 16 to get underway. The two umpires make their way out to the center. Now, Smriti Mandhana leads her troops out as the Royal Challengers spread out to the field and take their positions. Hayley Matthews and Sajana Sajeevan are the two openers for the Mumbai Indians. Lauren Bell has the new ball and is raring to go. Hayley to take the strike. The countdown is down and here we go!

We are just a few moments away from the first ball, but before that, both teams have lined up for the Indian national anthem on the occasion of the Republic Day of India.

RCB's Lauren Bell is up for a chat - She says that she stays positive and she performs best when she is smiling rather than getting angry. She prefers trusting her experience against familiar batters over relying on analytics, planning to stick to her strengths and target the stumps on this specific pitch. Bell also reflects on the challenge of modifying her bowling action while competing at the highest level, explaining that while she intends to bring back her inswinger during a future training block, her current focus remains on perfecting the consistency of her outswinger.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Unchanged Playing XI) - Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana(C), Georgia Voll, Gautami Naik, Richa Ghosh(WK), Radha Yadav, Nadine De Klerk, Arundhati Reddy, Sayali Satghare, Shreyanka Patil, and Lauren Bell.

Mumbai Indians (Playing XI) - Sajana Sajeevan, Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Amelia Kerr (In for Nicola Carey), Amanjot Kaur, Sanskriti Gupta, Rahila Firdous (WK), Poonam Khemnar, Shabnim Ismail, and Vaishnavi Sharma.

The captain of Mumbai Indians - Harmanpreet Kaur says that, considering the conditions and how the previous games have unfolded, the team would have preferred to bowl first, but adds that they are ready to adapt to whatever comes their way. She stresses that it is an important match for the side. She mentions that the team has spent quality time together, held productive meetings, and put in solid training sessions. Kaur hopes that everything discussed and worked on over the past couple of days translates into strong execution on the field. Confirming a change in the lineup, she says Amelia Kerr comes back into the side, while Nicola Carey misses out due to injury.

The captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru - Smriti Mandhana says that they will bowl first as dew is a factor, and batting second would be good as they are a batting side. Adds that they have taken learnings from the last game and they have done well for the opening games. Adds that there was a bump in the last game but they will look to rectify those. Says that they will access a couple of overs and see how it goes. Ends by saying that they are going with the same side.

TOSS - Right. Both captains have made their way out to the center for the coin flip. Smriti has the coin and Harmanpreet will call. Tails is the call from Harman, and it lands as Head. Royal Challengers Bengaluru elect to BOWL first.

PITCH REPORT - Mel Jones and Katey Martin are inspecting the conditions in Vadodara. Mel says there is plenty of discussion around the soil and pitch being used at the venue. She points out that one side of the ground is slightly shorter, something captains need to keep in mind. Jones explains that the surface is made of black soil with a clay base beneath the turf, which helps retain moisture. She adds that this combination is creating challenges for both bowlers and batters. She then brings Katey Martin in to break down the surface further and explain how players should approach it. Katey Martin describes the surface as intriguing and notes that it is the same pitch used in the previous game. She says there was more grass earlier but it has now been trimmed, although a green tinge still remains and the surface looks fairly even. Martin highlights the presence of uneven bounce, which demands discipline from batters. She explains that most of the scoring success has come from hitting straight down the ground. With black clay offering limited bounce, she stresses the importance of playing straight and avoiding shots across the line, which have not worked. From a captain’s point of view, she feels keeping mid-wicket in for as long as possible is key.

One Result, Two Realities - The equation is simple and unforgiving. A win for RCB would all but seal their place in the final, giving them the comfort of certainty at a time when teams crave clarity. For Mumbai Indians, the margins are far thinner. Another defeat would leave their hopes of finishing in the top three hanging by a thread, turning an already difficult title defence into a near-impossible climb, making their last two remaining games a must win as the max they can reach is 8 points. Batting first has proven far from straightforward in Vadodara, with RCB’s 178 standing as the highest team total across the four matches played at the venue so far. Looking more closely, two teams have won while chasing, and two while defending. Let's see what this game has in store. Toss and teams coming up very shortly. Stay tuned.

Endgame awareness - While early momentum can go a long way, it is late-season rhythm that so often shapes champions. Having stumbled for the first time in this campaign, RCB will hope that the setback proves to be an outlier rather than the start of a worrying trend. Crucially, they do have a cushion in the points table, and reaching the 12-point mark would place them firmly in safe territory, beyond the reach of any mathematical permutations. Smriti Mandhana has led emphatically from the front with the bat, while the bowling unit has worked as a collective, often setting the tone under the guidance of Lauren Bell. The one area they will hope turns around is Grace Harris’ form. She has endured a lean patch in her last four outings, managing just 28 runs, and RCB will be keen to see her rediscover her scoring touch at this crucial stage.

A title defence unravelling - It was a curtain-raiser when these two sides crossed paths earlier this season. Back then, Mumbai Indians had never lost four league games in the history of this tournament. Tonight, they find themselves staring at the threat of elimination. With just two wins so far, MI sit fourth on the table, undone by issues of consistency. Those concerns have surfaced right at the top, where as many as four opening combinations have been tried and tested, but none has managed to make the Powerplay count with any regularity. Much of the responsibility has fallen on the shoulders of skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Nat Sciver-Brunt. Amid a stuttering campaign, the two senior pros have been MI’s most consistent performers, repeatedly standing up while others have faltered..

Old Rivals, New Urgency - The Women’s Premier League 2026 is racing towards its finish line as the final week of the league phase commences, with only a handful of games left before the knockout door swings open. Every result now carries weight, every over feels heavier. Match 16 sets the stage for a blockbuster clash as Royal Challengers Bengaluru lock horns with Mumbai Indians at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. On that note, a warm welcome to our coverage.

... MATCH DAY ...

Final push, different paths! The final week of league-stage action in the 2026 Women's Premier League is upon us, and Match 16 sees Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on the Mumbai Indians at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. Two teams arrive with contrasting objectives. RCB have already sealed qualification and have a direct berth in the final within reach, while MI are fighting to stay in the playoff mix. RCB eye a direct final berth! After winning their first five matches, RCB's juggernaut was finally brought to a halt in their previous outing by Delhi Capitals. As Smriti Mandhana admitted after the defeat, it can sometimes be better to get such a game out of the way before the playoffs. The 2024 champions will be keen to return to winning ways, knowing that one win from their remaining two matches will secure a direct place in the final. One of RCB's biggest strengths this season has been different individuals stepping up at different times, but against DC, no one was able to rise to the occasion. Mandhana has shouldered the bulk of the scoring throughout the campaign, but there is a slight concern around the recent run of low scores for Grace Harris, while Georgia Voll has tapered off after a fifty in her opening game. Much will rest on that trio getting RCB off to a solid start, with the likes of Richa Ghosh and Nadine De Klerk providing firepower down the order. On a night where positives were few, Sayali Satghare once again delivered an impactful Powerplay spell and has formed an effective new-ball pairing with Lauren Bell. De Klerk will also have a crucial role to play alongside Shreyanka Patil and Radha Yadav on the slow, low surfaces on offer in Vadodara. Can MI turn things around? Mumbai Indians find themselves in a challenging phase of the tournament, having lost their previous three matches. With just two games remaining, they will be desperate to rediscover momentum in what is a must-win phase of the competition. A major issue for the two-time champions this season has been instability at the top of the order. Hayley Matthews was initially unavailable due to a shoulder injury, and then G Kamalini was ruled out, forcing MI to try as many as four different opening combinations in six matches. Even the pairing of Sajana Sajeevan and Matthews has yet to bring success, which has placed additional pressure on Nat Sciver-Brunt and captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who have carried the bulk of the scoring. Nicola Carey has made her presence felt with both bat and ball, though it was a concern when she left the field during their bowling effort in the previous game. That said, the five-day break between matches gives MI hope that Carey will be fit to feature. Shabnim Ismail, meanwhile, has not had the same impact she enjoyed in Mumbai's title-winning campaigns, and that has hurt their cause. Team form (Last 5 T20s, most recent first) RCB - LWWWW | MI - LLLWW. Chasing paradise or a level playing field? The Vadodara leg of the 2025 WPL season saw all six matches won by the side chasing. This season, however, the trend has evened out, with two wins each for teams batting first and chasing across the four games played so far. Spoils shared, but is the rivalry really even? The two sides have shared the spoils so far, with four wins apiece from their eight meetings. However, recent history tilts in RCB's favour. They have won four of the last five encounters, including the previous two and their earlier meeting this season. Different stakes, shared history, and everything to play for in Vadodara. Who will rise and come out on top?