Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians Highlights: Nat Sciver-Brunt's Historic Ton Downs RCB As MI Stay Alive In Playoffs Hunt

Welcome back for the run chase. The MI players scatter out of the huddle and take their respective positions on the field. Smriti Mandhana and Grace Harris walk out as the opening pair for RCB. And as usual, it will be Shabnim Ismail to bowl the opening over. Searching for runs, it will be Grace Harris to take the strike. A slip in place. Here we go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

So it is exactly 200 for RCB to get back to winning ways. Their bowling has come under the scanner just when the playoffs are knocking on the door. Mumbai Indians have lost three on the bounce and this is just like a must-win game for them to keep their playoff hopes alive. It will be a big test for their bowling unit against a powerpacked RCB batting unit. Should be an interesting chase. Back in a bit. Stay tuned.

And the woman of the moment, NAT SCIVER-BRUNT, is in for a quick chat - She also wears the Orange Cap as she is now the leading run scorer of this season. She says that she has seen a few players who stayed in the nineties, so she wanted to get to her century. Adds that the partnership with Hayley was excellent, and they had a powerful batting lineup, so they are happy with what they have achieved. On her celebration, Nat Sciver-Brunt smiles and shyly dedicates the milestone to her wife, Katherine Sciver-Brunt, who is probably asleep at home but whom she hopes is watching. She mentions that Kat really wanted her to reach triple figures. Reflecting on the achievement, Sciver-Brunt says it is her first T20 hundred and expresses her happiness at crossing the milestone, adding that she hopes it is not her last. On Mumbai Indians’ total of 199, Sciver-Brunt notes that after losing so many tosses this season, it feels great to put up a strong score. She also stresses that the bowlers will need to perform well, given RCB’s deep batting lineup.

Mumbai Indians scored 112/1 in that 7-15 over phase, as RCB were pushed into a reactive mode, constantly shuffling the field as the pair dictated terms with ease. Both brought up deserved half centuries, and although Bell eventually snapped their 131-run stand, the damage was done. The stage was perfectly set for a late surge, with Sciver-Brunt batting in a different orbit altogether and Harmanpreet Kaur providing the ideal support at the other end. With Sciver-Brunt finally ending the century drought in the WPL, MI finished on 199 on the board.

Mumbai Indians’ biggest headache this season has been their Powerplay batting, and this outing followed the same worrying script. They have the slowest run rate in the first six overs, with their opening stand barely averaging a tick above 20, and Sajana’s early dismissal only deepened the sense of deja vu. The RCB bowlers tightened the screws once again, mainly through Bell, leaving MI crawling to 38/1 at the end of the Powerplay. Then came the turnaround. Nat Sciver-Brunt and a run-hungry Hayley Matthews stitched together a superb recovery, built more on clarity and class. There was no blind slogging, just smart cricket. They absorbed the pressure, waited for the bowlers to err, and cashed in whenever the bowlers missed their lengths. Once set, the tempo lifted sharply through the middle overs as boundaries began to flow with reassuring regularity.

Mumbai Indians may have remained one shy of 200, but the Women's Premier League's wait is over for its first centurion, finally. It was a matter of when, and the question was who? And it was answered by Nat Sciver-Brunt. In a knock of the highest class, she stayed unbeaten on 100 from just 57 deliveries, blending authority with elegance throughout. Her innings powered Mumbai Indians into a commanding position at the halfway stage and gave the league a moment it had been waiting for eagerly.

Much fuller, outside off, Amelia Kerr lifts it towards long off for a single. Nat Sciver-Brunt wanted a second run but Amelia Kerr sent her back. Mumbai Indians end their innings at 199 runs.

Last ball coming up. Can MI get past 200? Amelia Kerr walks in at number 6.

OUT! TIMBER! Shreyanka Patil gets a wicket on her name. Flatter, on off, and it skids through. Amanjot Kaur looks to loft it but misses it completely as the ball hits the timber. Amanjot Kaur walks back into the shed.

Hundred up for Nat Sciver-Brunt! What a brilliant knock this has been. She also becomes the first batter to score a century in WPL! Nice and full, on off, Nat Sciver-Brunt knocks it down the ground for a single. Fittingly, the first century has been scored by the highest run-getter in the history of this competition. She raises her bat towards the dugout, her teammates, and even her family, which includes her wife and son. This is truly a moment to savour and her knock will be remembered for a long, long time.

Keeps it full, on leg, Nat Sciver-Brunt looks to flick it but gets a bottom edge as the ball rolls to the left of the keeper. Dot. Nat Sciver-Brunt stays in 99 for now!

Full, on leg, Amanjot Kaur taps it to cover for a quick single. The fielder throws it towards the keeper but Nat Sciver-Brunt makes it in the crease comfortably.

Nice and full, on off, Amanjot Kaur drills it down the ground for a brace. Excellent running between the wickets. The fielder dives to her left and makes a brilliant stop in the deep. Saves two runs for her team.

FOUR! Finds the gap! Much fuller, outside off, Nat Sciver-Brunt stays back and steers it through cover-point. The fielder, Arundhati, dives to her left to stop the boundary but fails to do so. Nat Sciver-Brunt moves to 99 now!

Slower one, on off, Amanjot Kaur flicks it to mid on for a single.

The 42-run partnership is broken for the third wicket. Amanjot Kaur walks in at number 5.

OUT! TAKEN! Nadine De Klerk has the last laugh. On a length, outside off, Harmanpreet Kaur stays back and looks to go down the ground. Gets it off the toe end of her bat as the ball carries towards long off. Georgia Voll settles under it and completes the catch. A quickfire 20 off 12 for Harmanpreet Kaur. Mumbai Indians are 189/3.

Keeps it full, on leg, Nat Sciver-Brunt flicks it through mid on for a single.

FOUR! Nat Sciver-Brunt moves to 94 now! Nice and full, outside off, Nat Sciver-Brunt leans on and cracks a drive through wide of mid off for a boundary.