Royal Challengers Bengaluru kicked off their Women's Premier League 2024 campaign in spectacular fashion, snatching a heart-stopping last-ball victory against defending champions Mumbai Indians on Friday. The hero of the night was South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk, who delivered a stunning all-round performance to secure a three-wicket win.
De Klerk's All-Round Masterclass Seals Thriller
The match, played at the DY Patil Stadium, was a rollercoaster from start to finish. Nadine de Klerk was deservedly named Player of the Match for her monumental effort. She first impressed with the ball, taking an excellent 4 wickets for 26 runs to restrict Mumbai Indians. Later, with the bat, she played a match-winning, unbeaten knock of 63 runs from just 44 deliveries, an innings laced with seven fours and two crucial sixes.
Reflecting on her performance after the game, De Klerk said, "If it is your day, you have to ensure you cash in." And cash in she did, steering her team home in a nail-biting finish.
Mumbai's Fightback and RCB's Rocky Chase
After RCB won the toss and opted to bowl, Mumbai Indians found themselves in early trouble at 67 for 4. However, a brilliant recovery was staged by Sajeevan Sajana (45) and Nicola Carey (40), who added 82 runs for the fifth wicket in just 49 balls. Their partnership propelled Mumbai to a competitive total of 154 for 6 in their 20 overs.
In response, RCB's chase began explosively with Smriti Mandhana and Grace Harris, racing to 40 runs quickly. But the loss of Mandhana for 18 triggered a collapse, and the Bengaluru side slumped to 65 for 5 in the eighth over. De Klerk then found a reliable partner in Arundhati Reddy, and their 52-run stand brought RCB back into the contest.
The Final Over Drama
The tension reached its peak in the final over of the match, bowled by Nat Sciver-Brunt, with RCB needing 18 runs to win. The situation looked dire for Bengaluru after De Klerk failed to score off the first two balls. What followed was pure carnage.
The third ball was launched over long-off for a massive six. The fourth was smashed behind square for a four. With 8 runs required from the last two deliveries, De Klerk kept her cool. She hammered the fifth ball over midwicket for another six, bringing the equation down to 2 runs from 1 ball. On the ultimate delivery, she fittingly finished the game by clubbing the ball back over the bowler's head, sealing a famous win for her team and setting the tone for an exciting WPL season.
