In a thrilling encounter at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Match nine of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 witnessed the clash between Smriti Mandhana-led Royal Challengers Bangalore Women and Mumbai Indians Women. Despite both teams entering the fixture on the back of recent losses, it was the MI Women who emerged victorious, propelled by the stellar performances of Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amelia Kerr.
However, amidst the intense battle, one moment stood out prominently – Shreyanka Patil’s exceptional save near the boundary ropes. On the final ball of the powerplay, MI’s Hayley Matthews struck a slow half-volley towards long-on, seemingly destined for a six. Yet, displaying remarkable agility and presence of mind, the young all-rounder Patil flung herself towards the ball, executing a breathtaking catch just inches from the boundary line. With incredible athleticism, she released the ball before crossing the line, restricting MI to just two runs instead of a boundary.
Patil’s acrobatic fielding heroics quickly captured the attention of fans and cricket enthusiasts, with videos of her stunning save swiftly going viral across social media platforms. While this moment provided a brief glimmer of joy for the RCB Women, it was overshadowed by MI Women’s dominant performance, as they cruised to a seven-wicket victory.
Looking ahead, the Smriti Mandhana-led RCB Women are scheduled to face UP Warriorz on March 4 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Meanwhile, the MI Women will square off against Delhi Capitals Women on March 5 in the inaugural fixture of WPL 2024 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
As the tournament progresses, the remarkable display of skill and athleticism by players like Shreyanka Patil serves as a testament to the exciting cricketing action and fierce competition that defines the Women’s Premier League.
