The Women’s Premier League (WPL) came into the scene last year and as many as five teams took part in the competition namely Mumbai Indians Women, Delhi Capitals Women, Gujarat Giants, UP Warriorz and Royal Challengers Bangalore Women. Mumbai Indians Women and Delhi Capitals Women defied the odds and made it to the final. However, Harmanpreet Kaur-led Mumbai Indians got the better of Delhi Capitals to clinch the inaugural edition of the WPL.
The second season of the Women’s Premier League kick-started on February 23 and as many as five games were played so far. This time too, five teams are participating in the campaign. Royal Challengers Bangalore Women and Mumbai Indians Women are the only two teams that remain unbeaten in the competition. Having played two games so far, both teams won two games apiece (4 points), with RCB Women topping the table with a healthy Net Run Rate of +1.665 as compared to MI Women’s +0.488.
RCB Women’s shambolic fielding efforts become major talking point
During the recently-concluded game between RCB Women and Gujarat Giants at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, RCB Women made the headlines for their fielding efforts, which saw them drop a regulation catch and miss run-out chances. The commentators and fans were taken aback by RCB Women’s fielding standards. Gujarat Giants’ batswoman Hemalatha who was looking good smashed Sophie Molineux’s delivery towards long-off for a certain six.
However, she didn’t get the elevation right as the ball’s trajectory happened to come towards fielder Shreyanka Patil and the latter put in an effort to take the catch but it was to no avail as she dropped it. Meanwhile, Hemalatha returned back to the striker’s end as she took two runs. What followed up next was another drama as the fielder went on to hit the bull’s eye at the bowler’s end.
— Cricket Punter (@ImRahulCSK11) February 28, 2024
As it turned out, the ball not only hit the stumps but managed to hit Sophie before the ball travelled a little far from her distance. Gujarat Giants sensed the opportunity and took the third run and the video clip of the same has gone viral on the internet. Gujarat Giants posted 107/7 in their quota of 20 overs as Hemalatha top-scored with 31 off 25 (2 fours and a six). On the other hand, RCB Women chased down the target in 12.3 overs and won the game by 8 wickets. Smriti Mandhana top-scored with 43 off 27 (8 fours and a six).
