Authoritative fifties by Richa Ghosh and S Meghana had been well-supported by artful leg-spinner Sobhana Asha as Royal Challengers Bangalore celebrated their first house WPL match with a preventing two-run win over UP Warriorz in Bengaluru on Saturday. Richa (62, 37b, 12×4) and Meghana (53, 44b, 7×4, 1×6) pushed Royal Challengers to a par 157 for six on a barely cheesy pitch as they added 71 runs for the fourth wicket in 50 balls.

Grace Harris (38, 23b, 4×4, 2×6) and Shewta Sehrawat (31, 25b, 2×4, 1×6) milked 77 runs in 44 balls for the fourth wicket however UP couldn’t survive a five-wicket haul by leg-spinner Sobhana Asha (5/22), ending up at 155 for seven.

The Warriorz had been properly on track for a win at 116 for 3 within the fifteenth over, however Sobhana’s three-wicket burst within the seventeenth over modified the complexion of the sport.

She jettisoned Harris, Sehrawat and Kiran Navgire in that over to interrupt UP’s hopes by a skinny margin.

The Warriorz chase acquired off to a relatively sedate begin after shedding skipper Alyssa Healy within the second over itself.

Left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux produced a ripper to eliminate Healy. The ball pitched round center and off line, earlier than straightening to clip the bails off previous the tentative prod of the UP opener.

Vrinda Dinesh and Tahlia McGrath added 38 runs for the second wicket however in addition they consumed 7.4 overs for it, struggling to drag out huge photographs on a gradual deck.

But Sobhana struck heavy blows within the ninth over, dismissing each Vrinda and McGrath.

Vrinda, who laboured to a 28-ball 18, tried to step down and hoick Sobhana however missed the ball as stumper Richa did the remaining.

Sobhana ousted McGrath two balls later when the Aussie batter’s try and slog sweep noticed the ball rearranging her stumps.

For the document, Sobhana is the primary Indian to take a five-wicket haul within the WPL.

The historic second when Sobhana Asha turned the primary Indian to take a fifer within the WPL. pic.twitter.com/YxQznDAdEo

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 24, 2024

List of gamers with five-wicket hauls in WPL

Marizanne Kapp 5 for 15 for DC vs Gujarat Giants in 2023

Tara Norris – 5 for 29 for DC vs RCB in 2023

Kim Garth – 5 for 36 for Gujarat Giants vs UP Warriorz in 2023

Sobhana Asha – 5 for 22 for RCB vs UP Warriorz in 2024

Earlier, RCB batters hobbled to a complete that proved simply sufficient on the evening.

The RCB had been tottering at 54 for 3 in 7.5 overs after being requested to bat first.

Sensing the state of affairs, Meghana and Richa took their time to settle into their partnership, however as soon as they acquired their eyes in, the RCB pair didn’t look again.

Meghana, who was dropped on 20 and 22, made full use of these let-offs to play some beautiful photographs across the floor.

Her thumping loft over additional cowl for a six off left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad was adequate to look at in loop.

She reached her fifty in 40 balls, and Richa, who hammered pacer Saima Thakor for 16 runs within the 14th over, reached her personal mark quickly off 31 balls with a 4 off Tahlia McGrath.

The partnership was damaged when Gayakwad had Meghana stumped by Alyssa Healy.

But earlier than that regular stand, RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana, Sophie Devine and Ellyse Perry struggled to return to phrases with the sluggishness of the monitor, perishing of their try and drive the tempo.

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