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- Royal Challengers Bangalore deny Mumbai Indians a top-order finish.
Royal Challengers Bangalore deny Mumbai Indians a top-order finish.
Mumbai Indians' quest for a direct ticket to the WPL 2025 final fell short once again
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 199 for 3 (Mandhana 53, Perry 49*, Ghosh 36, Matthews 2-37) beat Mumbai Indians 188 for 9 (Sciver-Brunt 69, Rana 3-26) by 11 runs
Mumbai Indians' quest for a direct ticket to the WPL 2025 final fell short once again. For the third consecutive season, they finished second in the league stage behind Delhi Capitals, this time stumbling in a 200-run chase against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. A win would have put them at the top of the table, but sloppy fielding gave RCB a strong total to defend. In response, MI leaned heavily on Nat Sciver-Brunt, but with no other batter crossing 23, they suffered their first defeat at Brabourne Stadium in six matches.
RCB's 11-run victory was their third straight win while batting first—marking a shift in the tournament's trend, which had previously favored chasing teams. Their batting effort was built around Smriti Mandhana’s half-century, S Meghana’s fluent strokeplay, Ellyse Perry’s steadying presence, and quickfire contributions from Richa Ghosh and Georgia Wareham.
In the chase, Sciver-Brunt kept MI in the hunt despite early setbacks, stepping up after the departures of Hayley Matthews and Harmanpreet Kaur. But once she fell for a stunning 69 off 35 in the 15th over, MI’s hopes faded. With 71 runs still needed off the last 31 balls and no big hitters left, the task proved too steep, handing RCB a much-needed win that lifted them off the bottom of the table.
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International games
West Indies Masters vs South Africa Masters
WIM 200/5 (20)
SAM 171/8 (20)
West Indies Masters won by 29 runs
Pay Cuts for Domestic Players, Lavish Salaries for PCB Officials: Pakistan Cricket in Crisis
Pakistan's domestic cricketers are facing tough times as the PCB has reportedly slashed their match fees and cut down on basic facilities. At the same time, board officials continue to pocket hefty salaries.
According to a PTI report, the PCB has drastically reduced the match fees for players in the upcoming National T20 Championship, cutting it down from 100,000 Pakistani rupees per match to just 10,000. Reserve players will now receive only 5,000 per match. The tournament is set to begin on March 14, but the financial struggles for domestic players have already started.
Sources say that Abdullah Khurrum Niazi, the head of domestic cricket in the PCB, has been making significant budget cuts over the past few months. Players who once stayed in five-star and four-star hotels are now being put in cheaper accommodations. Air travel, which was previously a given, has also been reduced.
To make matters worse, players and umpires are still waiting for payments from last season. The PCB has also not implemented the annual pension increase for former Test cricketers, something that should have been done as per board policy.
Meanwhile, PCB officials continue to enjoy big salaries and perks. The board recently spent billions of rupees to renovate stadiums in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi for the 2025 Champions Trophy, but when it comes to supporting domestic players—the backbone of Pakistan cricket—there seems to be little money left.
“I don't think I can say it on camera but I was sh***ing myself."
Domestic cricket + T20 leagues
Mumbai Indians Women vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women
RCBW 199/3 (20)
MIW 188/9 (20)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women won by 11 runs
On This Day
1915
A legend of Indian cricket was born. Vijay Hazare, one of India’s finest batters, had his Test debut delayed by the Second World War, finally stepping onto the international stage at the age of 31 at Lord’s in 1946. His start was challenging, but he truly arrived with back-to-back centuries in the fourth Test against Australia in Adelaide during the 1947-48 series.
A year later, he began a remarkable streak of three consecutive centuries against England. However, due to India’s sparse Test schedule, the third century came as late as December 1951. India managed just three wins in Hazare’s 30-Test career, making his impressive average of 47 even more remarkable. He may not have been the most graceful batter, but he had every shot in the book. His first-class record was even more staggering, averaging 58 with the bat.
One of his most astonishing performances came in 1943-44, when he scored an unbeaten 309 for The Rest against Hindus in a team total of just 387. As if that wasn’t enough, he also took 60% of the wickets to fall—though there were only five. Despite his heroics, his team still lost by an innings, a testament to the unpredictable nature of the game. Hazare’s brilliance shone through even in difficult circumstances, securing his place as one of India's all-time greats.
Coming tomorrow
England Masters vs Australia Masters
Mumbai Indians Women vs Gujarat Giants Women