Carey, Sajana helped MI to recover from a shaky start against RCB in WPL opening match

Sajeevan Sajana during her 45 on Friday. Pic/Atul Kamble

Though the Mumbai Indians (MI) top-order failed to provide a dominating start against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), their No.5 and No. 6 batters, Nicola Carey (29-ball 40, 4x4) and Sajeevan Sajana (25-ball 45, 7x4, 1x6) did well to help the defending champions post 154-6 in the Women's Premier League-4 opening encounter at the DY Patil Stadium on Friday.

Put in to bat, MI lost their top three batters, including opener Gunalan Kamalini (28-ball 32, 5x4) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (20, 1x4, 1x6), by the halfway mark with the scoreboard reading 63-3.

However, Sajana and left-hander Carey shouldered the responsibility well, stitching a vital 82-run stand off just 49 balls. At the time of going to press, RCB were 82-5 in 11.4 overs.

RCB's India wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh showcased some exemplary glovework when she dismissed MI's one-drop batter Nat Sciver-Brunt (4) with a quick stumping off medium pacer Nadine de Klerk (4-26). Ghosh played a key role again when she took a sharp catch to dismiss Harmanpreet off De Klerk.