RCB captain Smriti Mandhana looks on in disbelief [Source: @kuchbhi12341416/x]
RCB fielders made a meal of a relatively easier catch during match number nine of the WPL 2025 season against UP Warriorz on Monday, February 24. Defending 181 runs for a win in front of their home crowd at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, as many as four RCB fielders converged around the backward square leg region for a catch, only for the ball to land in a safe zone.
Unsurprisingly, the missed opportunity displeased RCB captain Smriti Mandhana as UP Warriorz openers went on to shape a fiery start at the top during the run-chase.
Smriti Mandhana reacts to RCB’s Pakistan-inspired fielding
The incident occurred during the second over of the UP Warriorz innings when opening batter Dinesh Vrinda pulled RCB fast bowler Kim Garth for an attempted boundary. However, Vrinda ended up making a complete hash of her stroke.
Fortunately for her and for the UP Warriorz team, the ball landed between four RCB fielders around the backward square leg region, prompting captain Smriti Mandhana to be left bemused over her team’s Pakistan-like fielding effort.
Earlier in the match, RCB amassed 180-6 from 20 overs after being invited to bat first. Ellyse Perry at number three bludgeoned 90 unbeaten runs from just 56 balls with nine boundaries and three soaring sixes to top-score in the innings.
Danni Wyatt-Hodge also cracked a swift 41-ball 57 at the top of the order after the early dismissal of captain Smriti Mandhana. For the UP Warriorz, bowlers Chinelle Henry, captain Deepti Sharma and Tahlia McGrath all picked up a wicket each.