No mercy for Aussies Perry and Schutt in WPL hammering

Megan Schutt and Ellyse Perry have discovered the hard way about the quality of the new Women’s Premier League as the bowling of the Australian World Cup winners got treated with disdain at the Brabourne Stadium ground in Mumbai.

Both Schutt and Perry are among the top-five wicket takers of all-time in T20 internationals but found themselves being carted for more than 10 an over in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s nine-wicket hammering by Mumbai Indians on Monday.

Chasing down RCB’s 155 all out with ease, Mumbai cruised past the target on 1-159 with 34 balls still remaining as West Indian Hayley Matthews (77no) and English star allrounder Nat Sciver-Brunt (55no) feasted on the Australian fare in an unbroken match-winning partnership of 114.

Pace bowler Schutt, who had gone for 45 off four overs in RCB’s first-game defeat by Delhi Capitals, this time conceded 32 off just three – and she still hasn’t taken a wicket.

The great Perry, meanwhile, bowled just the one over for eight runs, then returned for the denouement only for her first two balls to be smashed for two more match-sealing boundaries by Sciver-Brunt.

Earlier in RCB’s knock, Perry had looked threatening with the bat as she clouted one glorious six but, on 13 after just seven balls, she was run out after a mix-up with her Indian partner Richa Ghosh.

Schutt, so far, has actually looked happier with bat than ball, this time clouting a useful 20 off 14 balls near the end of the innings to help RCB at least set a modest total.

Earlier, RCB captain Smriti Mandhana, the highest-paid player in the WPL, again flattered to deceive, moving nicely to 23 off 17 balls before being caught at point off Matthews, whose 3-28 as well as her big-hitting made her an outstanding player of the match.

Matthews crashed 13 fours and a six in her knock while Sciver-Brunt showed why she’s the most expensive overseas recruit in the league alongside Australian Ash Gardner, as she clocked up her fifty off 28 balls.

It left Mumbai unbeaten after their two games and RCB still looking to get off the mark in the competition.

Meanwhile, there has still been no confirmation of whether Gujarat Giants’ Australian captain Beth Mooney will be fit to continue in the tournament after suffering a knee injury in the opening match on Saturday, although coach Rachael Haynes had offered a gloomy prognosis over the weekend.