By Royal Challengers Bangalore secured their spot in the WPL 2024 final with a hard-fought 6-run victory over defending champions Mumbai Indians in a tense encounter.
Spinners seal the deal
RCB’s spin bowlers played a crucial role in their win, delivering three consecutive boundary-less overs in the crucial final stages. Shreyanka Patil came close to dismissing Harmanpreet Kaur early in the 18th over, and although the opportunity was missed, she maintained pressure, eventually leading to Kaur’s dismissal on the final ball. Sophie Molineux and Asha Sobhana then closed out the match, restricting Mumbai’s batters from finding the boundaries they needed to win.
A gripping chase
During Mumbai’s chase, they seemed to be in control for much of the match, especially with Harmanpreet Kaur and Amelia Kerr building a solid partnership of 52 runs for the fourth wicket. However, RCB’s bowlers managed to turn the game around just in time to secure the win.
RCB’s early struggle and Perry’s heroics
Opting to bat first, RCB faced a challenging start, losing key wickets early on. However, Ellyse Perry’s brilliant batting turned the tide in their favor. Perry’s innings showcased her class and determination, as she navigated the pitch and attack with ease. She accelerated the scoring in the final overs, finishing with a well-made 66 runs. Perry’s performance, coupled with contributions from other batters, helped RCB post a competitive total of 135/6.
Perry’s late flourish proved crucial
As Mumbai Indians looked to chase down the target, Perry’s late onslaught with the bat proved to be the difference-maker. She unleashed a series of boundaries, including a crucial fifty, to propel RCB to a defendable total. A late six by Georgia Wareham off the final ball added valuable runs to the scoreboard, ultimately proving pivotal in RCB’s victory.
Final Scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore 135/6 (Ellyse Perry 66; Nat Sciver-Brunt 2-18, Hayley Mathews 2-18) beat Mumbai Indians 130/6 (Harmanpreet Kaur 33; Shreyanka Patil 2-16) by 6 runs
