Women’s Premier League history was rewritten on January 26, 2026, when Nat Sciver-Brunt struck the first-ever century of the tournament. Her unbeaten 100 off 57 balls powered Mumbai Indians Women to a vital 15-run win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women in a high-pressure clash.
The 16th match of WPL 2026 was a must-win for Mumbai, who were coming off three straight losses. A defeat would have pushed their playoff hopes to the brink, making Sciver-Brunt’s knock one of perfect timing.
Mumbai had a shaky start after losing an early wicket, and the powerplay yielded just 38 runs. Sciver-Brunt then took control, first steadying the innings and then slowly lifting the tempo as gaps opened in the field.
She found strong support from Hayley Matthews, and the pair stitched together a match-defining 131-run stand for the second wicket. Matthews chipped in with a vital 56 off 39 balls, matching Sciver-Brunt’s intent during the middle overs.
Once set, Sciver-Brunt went on a boundary hunt. She finished with 16 fours and one six, bringing up her hundred late in the innings. It was her maiden T20 century and came after 82 matches across four WPL seasons.
Mumbai closed at 199 for 4, the highest total at the Vadodara venue this season. Most RCB bowlers struggled to contain the scoring, with only Lauren Bell conceding runs at under 10 an over.
Defending a big total, Mumbai struck early. Matthews starred with the ball, picking up 3 for 10, while Shabnim Ismail added 2 for 25. RCB were rocked to 35 for 5 inside the powerplay.
A dramatic counterattack followed from Richa Ghosh, who smashed 90 off 50 balls. Her innings included three straight sixes off Amanjot Kaur in the penultimate over, briefly keeping RCB in the hunt.
Despite the late scare, Mumbai held their nerve in the final over to seal a 15-run win. The result snapped their losing streak and lifted them to second place on the points table, putting their playoff fate back in their own hands.