Smriti Mandhana after RCB’s fourth consecutive loss | Cricket News I will accept responsibility as well.
In the Brabourne Stadium, RCB chose to bat but were eventually bowled out for 138, allowing UP Warriorz to win by 10 wickets with as little as 42 balls remaining.
The loss has made it less likely that RCB will make further progress.
“I think in the last four games, it has been happening. We start well and we lose a cluster of wickets. I will take the blame as well. As a top order batter, we need to put up runs on the board for the bowlers to defend,” Mandhana said after the game.
Alyssa Healy, the captain of UPW, set the tone with a brilliant 47-ball 96 not out as her team earned their second victory of the competition.
This came after RCB was dismissed by the UP Warriorz spinners Sophie Ecclestone and Deepti Sharma, who gave up very little despite striking frequently. For RCB, Ellyse Perry led all scorers with a 39-ball 52.
Mandhana commented on the plans for the middle overs.
, “We spoke about it before this match that we will try to take 7-8 runs per over but it did not work out today. As top-order batters, we need to bat well and put up a good total to defend. We don’t have injuries.
“We are trying to get a balanced team that can win us a game. I have tried to speak to almost all the players, pep them up and I have to keep doing it. Last week has been tough. Lots to reflect and lots to work on.”
The India vice-captain added, “A lot of people have reached out to me and as an international cricketer, we have faced these situations before. I have my family around me always but I always believe that you have to sit by yourself and rectify your mistakes.”
Healy and Devika Vaidya, who opened alongside her (36 not out off 31 balls), were serious from the get-go. The latter played the ideal supporting role to the assertive Australian while also maintaining an over-run-per-ball strike rate.
Healy commended her spinners for their excellent performance with the ball and called it “phenomenal” that they managed to hold RCB under 140 on such a track.
“I was really pleased with the bowlers. Before the game, I thought if we could keep them to under 200, it would be great. To keep a batting unit like that to a score under 140 was phenomenal,” Healy said.
Seasoned English left-arm spinner Ecclestone finished with incredible figures of 4/13 in her full quota of four overs, while Deepti ended with 3/26.
“It was spin to win tonight. It is still a good batting wicket but our spinners bowled well in partnerships. Anjali held her nerve too. Our bowlers executed really well tonight. Devika came into the top of the order and just showed her class.
“During the series we played against India, I thought what she was doing so low down the order. We just set the platform early. We got off to a really good start.
“At the time-out, we discussed about not dragging it out until the final over. Sometimes it comes off, sometimes it doesn’t. Today it did and I am really happy about that,” Healy added.
