WPL 2023: Healy, Ecclestone powers UPW to a thumping 10-wicket win over RCB

Sophie Ecclestone (4/13) and Deepti Sharma (3/26) starred with the ball while captain Alyssa Healy (96 off 47 not out) put on a sensational show with the bat, as UP Warriorz (UPW) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 10 wickets in Match 8 of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023 at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Friday.

After bowling out RCB for 138, UPW made a cracking start in the chase, courtesy Healy and Devika Vaidya, who powered the team to 55/0 at the end of the powerplay. The UPW openers continued to score rapidly, giving no respite to RCB bowlers.

Healy then notched up a stunning fifty in just 28 balls as UPW zoomed past the 100-run mark in the 10th over. Healy then upped the ante even further and scored 46 runs more off just 19 balls while Vaidya, who played a fine supporting role, scored 36* off 31 balls, as UPW marched towards a victory with seven overs to spare.

Earlier, after winning the toss and electing to bat first, RCB got off to a quick start as Sophie Devine cut loose. However, UPW struck back in the third over as left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad dismissed RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana (4 off 6) caught. All-rounder Ellyse Perry then joined Devine in the middle and the two kept the scorecard ticking as RCB moved to 54/1 at the end of the powerplay.

However, in the 9th over, Ecclestone won the battle of Sophies as she got Devine (36 off 24) out. Perry though continued to score at a rapid pace and brought up her half-century in 35 balls as RCB went past the 100-run mark in the 12th over despite Kanika Ahuja and Heather Knight getting out in quick succession.

Shreyanka Patil (15 off 10) looked good and scored three fours before getting out to Ecclestone, caught at covers. Following Patil’s wicket, Perry (52 off 39) was the next batter to get dismissed as off-spin all-rounder Deepti Sharma provided the breakthrough to UPW in the 17th over. UPW then continued to chip away as RCB lost their last four wickets for 13 runs.

For the UPW, Ecclestone was the pick of the bowlers claiming 4/13 from 3.3 overs, while Sharma picked 3/26 from her four overs.

Alyssa Healy was named Player of the Match for her unbeaten 96 off 47 balls, hitting eighteen fours and one six at a brilliant strike rate of 204.25.

Brief Scores: UP Warriorz 139/0 in 13 overs (Alyssa Healy 96*, Devika Vaidya 36*) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 138/10 in 19.3 overs (Ellyse Perry 52, Sophie Devine 36; Sophie Ecclestone 4/13, Deepti Sharma 3/26) by 10 wickets