Kamal Ghorui
Mumbai Indians all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt made history in the Women’s Premier League by scoring the tournament’s first-ever century during MI’s match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Monday.Facing the 2024 WPL champions in a must-win game, Sciver-Brunt scored an unbeaten 100 off 57 balls, hitting 16 fours and one six to anchor Mumbai’s innings.This was the first century in WPL history. In the current season, Sciver-Brunt now leads the run charts with 319 runs in six innings at an average of 79.75. Her tally includes one century and three half-centuries, with a strike rate of over 154.She also became the first batter to score more than 300 runs in three different editions of the WPL. Her best season came last year, when she played a key role in Mumbai Indians’ title win, scoring 523 runs in 10 matches at an average of 65.37 and a strike rate of over 152, with five fifties and a top score of 80 not out.Overall, Sciver-Brunt has scored 1,346 runs in 35 WPL matches and innings at an average of 51.76. Her record includes one century and 11 half-centuries, the most fifty-plus scores by any batter in the league. She has also won two WPL titles and was named Player of the Tournament last season.With five century partnerships, Sciver-Brunt has been involved in more 100-run stands than any other batter in WPL history. Meg Lanning, Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana and Hayley Matthews follow with four each.In the match, RCB chose to field first. After an early wicket, Sciver-Brunt and Hayley Matthews added 131 runs for the second wicket. Matthews scored 56 off 39 balls, including nine fours. MI captain Harmanpreet Kaur contributed 20 off 12 balls, with two fours and a six, in a 42-run stand.Mumbai Indians finished on 199 for four. For RCB, Lauren Bell was the most successful bowler, taking two wickets for 21 runs in four overs.
