TATA WPL 2024: Royal Challengers Bangalore has maintained composure to edge past Mumbai Indians and secure their spot in the final

RCB scored 135/6 in 20 overs, where as MI scored 130/6 in 20 overs.

So, finally RCB beat MI by 5 runs.

Royal Challengers Bangalore booked their spot in the final of WPL 2024 with a hard-fought 5-run triumph over defending champions Mumbai Indians in a nail-biting encounter.

Spinners seal the deal

RCB’s spin bowlers displayed nerves of steel, crafting three boundary-less overs in the crucial final stages to secure a tense victory.

Shreyanka Patil nearly had Harmanpreet Kaur stumped on the first ball of the 18th over, but a missed opportunity by Richa Ghosh kept the suspense alive.

However, Patil maintained pressure, eventually inducing Kaur to hole out to long on on the last ball of the over.

This pivotal moment turned the tide in RCB’s favor, with Sophie Molineux and Asha Sobhana completing the job, stifling the batsmen’s attempts to find boundaries and capitalizing on Ghosh’s sharp work behind the stumps.

A rollercoaster chase

Throughout the chase, MI seemed to be cruising towards victory, primarily driven by a solid partnership between Harmanpreet and Amelia Kerr, who added 52 runs for the fourth wicket.

Despite the earlier contributions from their top order, RCB managed to keep the pressure on, ultimately outlasting their opponents.

Early setbacks for RCB

Opting to bat first on a challenging pitch, Royal Challengers Bangalore faced early setbacks.

Despite a fluent start from Smriti Mandhana, RCB stumbled as Sophie Devine and Mandhana herself departed early.

Mumbai Indians capitalized on this momentum, with Saika Ishaque further denting RCB’s progress.

At 23/3, RCB’s innings seemed to be faltering.

The Ellyse Perry spectacle

Ellyse Perry, the standout performer for RCB, once again showcased her class, anchoring the innings with a composed knock.

After a cautious start, Perry found her rhythm, unleashing an array of powerful strokes to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Despite losing partners at the other end, Perry’s fifty and late flourish propelled RCB to a competitive total.

Perry’s heroics

As Mumbai Indians aimed for a chaseable target, Perry unleashed a flurry of boundaries, denting the opposition’s hopes.

With consecutive boundaries off Shabnim Ismail and a fifty off Amelia Kerr’s over, Perry proved to be the difference-maker.

A crucial boundary-laden final over, including a six from Georgia Wareham, ensured RCB posted a challenging total.