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Smriti Mandhana-led Royal Challengers Bangalore ended their two-game losing streak with a dominant win against the UP Warriorz on Monday at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium. In the last WPL match of the season in Bengaluru, the home side sealed the victory as skipper Smriti Mandhana displayed a spectacular innings to help RCB register a 23-run victory.
After winning the toss, Alyssa Healy's UP Warriorz decided to bowl first and failed to take advantage as the Royal Challengers registered a 199-run target at a loss of three wickets. Smriti Mandhana and Elysse Perry scored half-centuries.
While the RCB skipper smashed 10 fours and three sixes, scoring 80 runs off 50 balls, Ellyse Perry scored 58 runs in 37 balls with four boundaries and sixes each followed by Richa Ghosh's unbeaten 10-ball-21 runs cameo. Apart from Sophie Ecclestone and Deepti Sharma, no UP bowler could complete their four overs while just three bowlers including Ecclestone, Deepti, and Anjali Sarvani picked up a wicket for the Warriorz.
During the chase, skipper Alyssa Healy and Kiran Navgire gave a brisk start to the Warriorz, however, they lost three wickets in quick succession as the RCB took charge. After Healy's (55-off-38) wicket, Deepti Sharma stood up and smashed 33 runs off just 20 balls, but failed to clinch victory for the Warriorz.
For RCB, Sobhana Asha, Sophie Devine, Georgia Wareham, and Sophie Molineux picked up two wickets each and put their side in a comfortable position against the Warriorz. In the end, the RCB restricted the Warriorz to 175 runs and registered a 23-run victory in Bengaluru.
