WPL 2024 Eliminator: All-round Ellyse Perry, bowlers help RCB enter Final with nail-biting win over MI

New Delhi, March 15: Royal Challengers Bangalore secured a spot in the final of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2024 after a tense encounter saw them emerge victorious over defending champions Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator on Friday (March 15) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Defending a total of 135, the Smriti Mandhana-led Royal Challengers Bangalore side maintained their composure in the crucial death overs, ultimately thwarting Harmanpreet Kaur and her Mumbai Indians team from clinching a win.

Until the 18th over, Mumbai Indians appeared to be in control, needing just 16 runs from 13 balls. However, the dismissal of captain Harmanpreet on the final delivery of the 18th over, bowled by Shreyanka Patil, dramatically shifted the momentum of the game.

Harmanpreet departed after scoring 33 runs off 30 balls, attempting to clear the spinner over long-on but finding Sophie Devine in the deep, much to her and her team's disappointment.

Following Harmanpreet's exit, RCB bowlers Sophie Molineux and Asha Sobhana took charge of the 19th and 20th overs respectively. The duo maintained pressure on the Mumbai Indians batters, ultimately restricting them to 130 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs. Although Amelia Kerr remained unbeaten on 27 runs from 25 balls, her efforts were insufficient to carry her team across the finish line.

With this victory, RCB Women booked their spot in the final, where they will face Delhi Capitals, the runners-up from the previous season, at the same venue on Sunday, March 17.

Shreyanka Patil stood out as the pick of the bowlers for RCB, returning figures of 2/16 from her allotted 4 overs. Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry (1/29), Sophie Molineux (1/16), Georgia Wareham (1/37), and Asha Sobhana (1/13) also contributed with one wicket each for RCB.

Earlier in the day, Ellyse Perry played a pivotal role in guiding RCB to a below-par total of 135 for 6. Perry's elegant knock of 66 runs from 50 balls was instrumental after RCB's top-order suffered early setbacks against a disciplined Mumbai Indians attack, finding themselves at 24 for 3 within the first four overs of the Powerplay.

Hayley Matthews (2/18 in 4 overs) claimed the crucial wicket of veteran Sophie Devine, breaching her defence with a flighted off-break to provide an early breakthrough. Captain Smriti Mandhana (10) was caught in the deep cover region off a delivery from Nat Sciver-Brunt, while Disha Kasat (0) fell victim to a catch by Pooja Vastrakar inside the 30-yard circle off left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque (2/18 in 4 overs).

Despite occasional resistance, wickets fell at regular intervals for RCB, leaving Perry to anchor the innings with calculated shots. Towards the end, Georgia Wareham's unbeaten 18 runs off 10 balls, including a crucial last-ball six off Saika, helped RCB surpass the 130-run mark. However, Saika faced criticism for dropping a straightforward catch offered by Wareham, reflecting a recurring issue of poor fielding standards in the WPL.

We are set to get a new WPL champion on Sunday as Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore, both, eye their maiden title.