History was scripted in the Women’s Premier League on Monday evening as Nat Sciver-Brunt became the first player to score a century in the competition. The Mumbai Indians all-rounder produced a commanding unbeaten 100 off 57 balls to guide Mumbai Indians to a thrilling 15-run win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara.
Before this match, the WPL had seen 10 individual scores of 90 or more across four seasons, but none had crossed the three-figure mark. Sciver-Brunt, a two-time champion with MI, proved a fitting holder of the milestone, reaching her century in the final over as Mumbai posted an imposing 199 for four.
Her knock set the foundation for victory despite a stunning counterattack from RCB wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, who smashed a 50-ball 90 in a valiant chase. However, her effort fell just short, with RCB ending on 184 for nine.
Chasing 200, RCB suffered a dramatic collapse early, slumping to 35 for five inside the powerplay. Richa, batting at No. 6, mounted a fierce rescue act that kept the contest alive deep into the final overs. With 59 required from the last two overs and two wickets in hand, she launched an extraordinary assault on Amanjot Kaur, hammering the first three deliveries for sixes. Shreyanka Patil then added two boundaries in a 27-run penultimate over, reducing the equation to 32 off the final six balls. Richa continued to swing hard before being dismissed off the last ball by Amelia Kerr, sealing MI’s win.
Earlier, after MI were sent in to bat, Sciver-Brunt stitched together a breathtaking second-wicket partnership of 131 runs off just 73 balls with Hayley Matthews, who contributed 56 and also returned remarkable bowling figures of three for 10. Once the field restrictions eased, the duo shifted gears, with Sciver-Brunt showing innovation and precision against both pace and spin.
The pair tore into the RCB attack between overs 11 and 14, scoring 67 runs and putting the bowling unit under severe pressure. Although Lauren Bell provided brief relief by dismissing Matthews, Sciver-Brunt ensured MI finished strongly.
In a match packed with drama and standout performances, Sciver-Brunt’s historic century stood tall, marking a landmark moment for the WPL and underlining Mumbai Indians’ status as one of the tournament’s most formidable sides.
