The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) registered a clinical 7-wicket win against Mumbai Indians (MI) in Match 19 of the TATA Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 on Tuesday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Delhi witnessed the art of seam bowling as Ellyse Perry claimed the best ever figures in WPL history before scoring an unbeaten 40*(38) in a match-winning chase that sealed the playoffs qualification spot for RCB.
Chasing 114 for victory and qualification for Playoffs, Royal Challengers Bangalore openers were up and running with a positive start.
Sophie Molineux was dropped inside the circle in the third over but that didn’t hurt the Mumbai Indians as the left-handed opener was out stumped off Hayley Matthews’ bowling.
Both the openers were back in the hut as Nat Sciver-Brunt dismissed the RCB skipper, who was caught behind for 11.
RCB were 39/2 and it wasn’t easy going in the chase as Shabnam Ismail struck instantly after powerplay by knocking the leg stump of Sophie Devine.
Richa Ghosh, who joined Ellyse Perry in the middle, was dropped early in her innings. The RCB batter not only capitalized in style but also reduced the pressure in the chase.
The hundred was up for RCB in the 14th over as both – Richa Ghosh and Ellyse Perry switched gears and continued to bat with positive intent.
A maximum from Richa Ghosh and a lofted four from Ellyse Perry wrapped the chase for RCB, who chased down the target with more than five overs to spare.
Earlier, Royal Challengers Bangalore elected to field first. In the absence of Yastika Bhatia, S Sajana opened the innings along with Hayley Matthews.
The duo got the side to a steady start as MI reached 40/0 after 5 overs, with boundaries flowing from both ends. However, in the final delivery of the powerplay, Sophie Devine dismissed the dangerous Matthews, courtesy of a fine low catch in the deep by Ellyse Perry.
S Sajana, who was joined by Nat Sciver-Brunt in the middle, maintained the scoring rate with boundaries against Sophie Devine and Ellyse Perry.
However, what followed next was pure class and experience of Ellyse Perry. Three timber strikes and one LBW in the span of two overs, including the well-set Sajana and in-form MI skipper Harmanpreet Kaur.
The RCB pacer went on to register the best bowling figures in WPL history as the timber strikes continued to add pressure for the MI batters.
The Mumbai Indians were 86/7 after 14 overs with Priyanka Bala & Humaira Kazi in the middle. Priyanka scored a crucial unbeaten 19* but the Mumbai Indians were all-out for 113 in the 19th over.
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