Royal Challengers Bangalore reached the finals of the WPL 2024 beating defending Champions Mumbai Indians in a low-scoring thriller played at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi on 15th March.
Kaur and Kerr allowed the scoreboard to tick with occasional boundaries and singles. MI ended second timeout at 93 for 3. Kaur showed his batting abilities keeping in front with asking run rate. Shreyanka Patil bowled a stunning 18th over picking the wicket of Kaur after Ghosh missed a stumping chance. Kaur and Kerr added 52 runs for the 4th wicket. Sophie Molineux backed it up with 19th over getting rid of Sajana.
Sobhana Asha was handed the final over with 11 runs to defend. She picked the wicket of Pooja Vastkar with a lovely stumping by Ghosh. Asha handled nerves and helped RCB win the match by 5 runs. For RCB, Shreyanka Patil took 2 for 16, while Perry, Molineux, Wareham, and Asha Sobhana took 1 wicket each.
RCB captain Smriti Mandhana won the toss and decided to bat first. Mandhana and Sophie Devine got off to a quickfire start hitting 4 boundaries. Hayley Mathews got the initial breakthrough dismissing Devine. RCB lost 2 more quick wickets of Smriti Mandhana and Disha Kasat to leave them in trouble. Kasat struggled with her timing as MI bowlers kept it tight. At the end of the first six overs, RCB ended at 34 for 3.
After the timeout, Ghosh and Perry tried to stitch partnership keeping the scoreboard ticking with boundaries and singles. RCB ended the first timeout at 47 for 3. Ghosh was dismissed at the boundary by Nat Sciver Brunt to leave RCB in deep trouble.
Sophie Molineux came to the crease and did not look comfortable with her timing. On the other hand, Ellyse Perry looked impressive taking singles and hitting boundaries. Brunt struck to dismiss Sophie Molineux. Molineux and Perry added 35 runs for the 5th wicket. At the end of 2nd timeout, RCB scored 90 for 5.
Perry upped the ante with attacking shots putting pressure on the MI bowlers. She completed her fifty off 40 balls and then kept hitting attacking shots. It was a superb knock as she was dismissed caught by Brunt. Brunt and Wareham added 42 runs for the 6th wicket. Wareham hit a massive six to help RCB post 135 for 6 in 20 overs.
Chasing 136 runs to win, Hayley Mathews looked in fine touch putting pressure on RCB bowlers. Disha Kasat dropped a tough chance to dismiss Yastika Bhatia. Shreyanka Patil dismissed Mathews in the same over with a good catch at the boundary by Wareham. Yastika Bhatia and Nat Sciver Brunt looked steady keeping the scoreboard ticking. At the end of the first six overs, MI made 37 for 1 and ended the first timeout at that score.
Ellyse Perry produced a stunning delivery to dismiss Yastika Bhatia keeping RCB in the hunt. Brunt and Kaur looked cautious with their batting style before Wareham got rid of Brunt with a lovely delivery.
For her 66 and 1 for 29, Ellyse Perry was named the player of the match award. Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore will face each other in the finals to be played on 17th March 2024.
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