RCB spinners and Perry stun Mumbai to seal berth in WPL 2024 final

Royal Challengers Bangalore stormed into the WPL final for the first time after beating defending champions Mumbai Indians by five runs in Friday’s Eliminator in Delhi. After Ellyse Perry’s  magnificent 66 propelled RCB to 135 for 6, a calm and clinical bowling display – especially at the death – knocked Mumbai out.

The low-scoring, momentum-shifting game appeared to be in Mumbai’s grasp when they needed 20 runs in three overs with seven wickets remaining. However, RCB’s spin trio of Shrevanka Patil, Sophie Molineus and Asha Sobhana  dented Mumbai at a crucial time by plugging the runs and picking up three wickets.

When the equation came down to 12 runs off six balls, the uncapped Asha then held her nerve and bowled a boundary-less final over to put RCB in the final against Delhi Capitals.

Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bangalore135 for 6 in 20 overs (Ellyse Perry 66, Georgia Wareham 18*; Hayley Matthews 2-18, Nat Sciver-Brunt 2-18, Saika Ishaque 2-27) beat  Mumbai Indians 130 for 6 in 20 overs  (Nat Siver-Bunt 23, Harmanpreet  Kaur 33, Amelia Kerr 27*; Shreyanka  Patil 2-16) by five runs

(Cricinfo)