Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jan 10: Nadine de Klerk produced a sensational all-round performance to guide Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a dramatic opening-night victory over defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) at the DY Patil Stadium on Friday.
De Klerk’s unbeaten 63 and figures of 4 for 26 sealed an improbable win, as RCB chased down a stiff target despite losing key batters Smriti Mandhana, Grace Harris and Richa Ghosh inside the first eight overs. With RCB still needing 90 runs at that stage, the South African all-rounder’s late onslaught proved decisive.
Needing 18 runs off the final over, de Klerk survived two dot balls before smashing a six, four and six to bring the equation down to two runs off the last delivery. With the field drawn in to prevent a single, she backed away and drilled Nat Sciver-Brunt straight back over the bowler’s head to clinch a stunning win, leaving MI stunned.
Mumbai Indians were left to rue missed opportunities in the death overs. At the start of the 19th over, with RCB requiring 29 runs, Sciver-Brunt dropped a straightforward catch at long-off. Two more chances went down in the same over, as Amelia Kerr spilled de Klerk at deep square leg and G Kamalini failed to complete a run-out opportunity.
Amid the chaos, Prema Rawat, despite not bowling a single over, made a crucial contribution with the bat, striking two valuable boundaries to finish on 8 not out and keep RCB in the hunt.
Earlier, MI clawed their way back into the contest through Amelia Kerr, who dismissed Radha Yadav and the dangerous Richa Ghosh in quick succession to reduce RCB to 65 for 5 in the eighth over. RCB’s blazing start — seven fours and a six in the first three overs through Mandhana and Harris — was abruptly halted.
Lauren Bell was particularly impressive with the new ball, troubling MI batters with swing and bounce. Opening the batting in the absence of Hayley Matthews, Kerr struggled against Bell’s movement and was eventually dismissed for 4 off 15. Bell finished with figures of 4-1-14-1, applying sustained pressure during the powerplay.
MI’s innings saw brief resistance from captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who struck a couple of authoritative shots before edging de Klerk to the wicketkeeper to leave MI at 67 for 4. Promoted up the order, Sajana rode her luck early before launching a counterattack, taking 15 runs off Radha Yadav’s left-arm spin in the 15th over.
Sajana and debutant Nicola Carey stitched together a vital partnership, adding 85 runs to revive MI’s innings. Overs 14 to 17 yielded 41 runs, giving MI a competitive total and setting up a tense finish.
However, de Klerk’s calm under pressure and explosive finishing ensured RCB crossed the line, handing the defending champions a narrow defeat and making a powerful statement on the opening night of the tournament.