Royal Challengers Bangalore produced a stunning comeback to defeat Mumbai Indians by five runs in the Women's Premier League 2024 eliminator clash and qualify for the first-ever final on Friday, March 15.
The star Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry recorded another brilliant performance by smashing a fifty and one crucial wicket to help RCB knock out the defending champions at New Delhi's Arun Jaitely Stadium.
Perry top-scored with 66 runs off 50 balls, her second fifty in the tournament, to help Bangalore post a total of 135/6 batting first. Mumbai dominated the majority of the game but RCB bowlers made a sensational comeback in the death overs to seal the low-scoring thriller.
After qualifying for a playoff with a dominant win over Mumbai, Smriti Mandhana-led RCB won the crucial toss and elected to bat first with the same playing eleven. Mumbai welcomed back in-form opener Yastika Bhatia in their playing eleven with Priyanka Bala sitting out.
Smriti Mandhana and Sophie Devine gave RCB a hopeful start by smashing three fours off in-form MI pacer Shabnim Ismail. But Mumbai bowlers were quick to reply with Devine and Mandhana's wickets in the next two overs.
Indian spinner Saika Ishaqe then bowled out promoted Disha Kasat on a duck in the fourth over as RCB witnessed a 20/0 to 23/3 collapse. Ellyse Perry, who took six wickets and scored 40 runs in the last game against Mumbai, once again took the responsibility with sensible batting in the middle overs.
Perry single-handedly boosted RCB's total to a challenging position before losing her wickets in the last over. Perry scored 66 off 50 balls to complete 300 runs in WPL 2024 and also clinch an Orange Cap.
Yastika Bhatia and Hayley Matthews gave Mumbai a promising start with the latter scoring 15 runs before losing a wicket to Shreyanka Patil in the fourth over. After impressing with a bat, Perry gave RCB a breakthrough with Yastika's big wicket in the second over.
However, Mumbai remained in charge chasing a low target as Harmanpreet Kaur and Amelia Kerr added 52 runs for the fourth wicket. Mumbai seemed to have killed the game but RCB bowlers made a sensational comeback in the death overs to take the game to the wire.
Shreyanka dismissed Harmanpreet in the 18th over when Mumbai needed 16 runs off 13 balls to win. Kerr remained unbeaten by scoring 27 off 25 balls but Bangalore managed to save 12 runs in the last over with Asha Sobhana bowling an excellent spell.
Harmanpreet top-scored with 33 runs for Mumbai while Shreyanka took two wickets for 16 for Bangalore. Perry claimed the Player of the Match award for scoring 66 runs and taking one valuable wicket.
Mumbai Indians Playing XI: Hayley Matthews, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar, S Sajana, Humaira Kazi, Shabnim Ismail, Saika Ishaque.
Royal Challengers Bangalore Playing XI: Smriti Mandhana (c), Sophie Molineux, Ellyse Perry, Sophie Devine, Richa Ghosh (wk), Georgia Wareham, Disha Kasat, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, Shraddha Pokharkar, Renuka Thakur Singh.
