Navi Mumbai: Despite Mumbai Indians’ (MI) last-ball defeat to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the WPL 2026 opener, MI leg-spinner Amelia Kerr created history by becoming the highest wicket-taker in Women’s Premier League history. She surpassed her own teammate Hayley Matthews to claim the milestone.
Kerr’s Record-Breaking Performance
Kerr started her spell in the match with a bang, taking two wickets in her very first over, and went on to finish with an economical 4-over spell conceding just 13 runs. With these wickets, her tally in WPL now stands at 42, edging past Matthews’ 41 wickets.
Matthews, who missed the first match due to illness, remains a key competitor for the top spot. In 29 matches, she has taken 41 wickets, while Kerr achieved her 42 wickets in 30 matches. Matthews had won the Purple Cap in the inaugural season, and Kerr claimed it in the third season, signaling a potential rivalry at the top for the league’s leading wicket-taker title.
Match Recap
Batting first, MI posted 154/6, with Sajivan Sajna scoring 45 and Nicola Carey contributing 40 runs. In response, RCB got off to a strong start, reaching 40 runs by the fourth over, but lost half their side for 65 runs. A crucial partnership between Nadine de Klerk and Arundhati Reddy steadied the innings.
The match went down to the wire, with RCB needing 18 runs off the final over. De Klerk remained calm under pressure: the first two balls yielded no runs, but she then struck a six, a four, another six, and a four off the last ball to secure a thrilling victory for RCB.
Kerr’s achievement, even in a losing cause, highlights her consistency and impact as one of the premier bowlers in WPL history, while MI will look to regroup for the upcoming matches.