A capacity crowd at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, completely sold out, erupted with enthusiastic cheers as they welcomed the home team captain, Smriti Mandhana, during the Royal Challengers Bangalore Women’s team’s historic first home match. The event unfolded as they faced Alyssa Healy’s UP Warriorz in the second match of the WPL 2024.
In contrast, the opening clash of WPL 2024 between the reigning champions Mumbai Indians Women and last season’s runners-up Delhi Capitals Women lacked a similar level of anticipation, despite turning out to be one of the most thrilling matches. It is safe to say that the fans in Bengaluru were eagerly anticipating the appearance of their beloved Smriti Mandhana.
At the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium last night during the toss, a burst of excitement engulfed the entire crowd when Alyssa Healy emerged victorious in the toss and opted to field first. The iconic venue reverberated with unrestrained noise and cheers that seemed perpetual. Even the toss facilitator was taken aback by the thunderous reception accorded to Smriti Mandhana, a globally renowned female cricketer.
Even the toss facilitator observed that the level of noise surpassed that of the WPL 2024 opening ceremony, which featured several Bollywood stars, including Shah Rukh Khan. The anchor expressed anticipation, stating, “We had six Bollywood stars here last night, but this seems louder. That’s going to be a challenge for your players to try and get used to.”
In response, Smriti Mandhana’s reaction was truly priceless. She appeared astonished, captivated, and wore a radiant smile, as if experiencing such a welcome for the first time, gesturing for the crowd to ease up.
“As a team, we were already aware that RCB, with their fan base, would give us this kind of welcome. Our discussion revolved around the anticipation of a lot of noise and strong support for us. However, it’s crucial for us as a team to focus on our performance,” Mandhana remarked during the toss.
The home team ensured that their supporters left with smiles on their faces, securing a narrow 2-run victory over UP Warriorz in a tightly contested match that extended until the final ball. Despite posting a somewhat precarious target of 158 on the scoreboard in a batting-friendly environment, RCB managed the feat, with Sabbhineni Meghana contributing 53 off 44, and wicket-keeper batsman Richa Ghosh complementing the effort with a remarkable 62 off 37, featuring 12 fours.
The bowling prowess of UP Warriorz, led by the exceptional performance of Sophie Ecclestone, proved commendable, displaying collective economical bowling. However, the Warriorz’s batting lineup failed to support the efforts of their bowlers, lacking substantial and effective partnerships, and lacking any standout individual brilliance.
With this win, Smriti Mandhana’s team secured all two points in their inaugural home game, setting the stage for their upcoming match against the Gujarat Giants in WPL 2024.
Read More:
Pingback: BAN-W vs GUJ-W Dream11 Prediction: Today's Match Preview - Cricket Info