Royal Challengers Bangalore, riding on a fine all-round display from Australian Ellyse Perry, defeated defending champions Mumbai Indians by five runs in the Eliminator here on Friday to set up a Women’s Premier League title clash against Delhi Capitals.
Chasing a paltry total of 136, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Mumbai faltered, thanks to some incisive bowling by Perry (1/29) and Shreyanka Patil (2/16), and could manage just 130 runs for the loss of six wickets.
Mumbai Indians could not get the required momentum, which was lost completely after Harmanpreet was dismissed for 33 in the 18th over.
“We bowled really well, we restricted them to under 140. Batting was also good but the last 12 balls we did not bat well. In 12 balls, we needed just
one boundary, we could not get that. This game always teaches you and puts you under pressure, you need to learn from it,” Harmanpreet said later.
Player of the Match Perry’s 66 off 50 balls was the cornerstone of RCB’s total after their top-order was blown away by Mumbai, reducing them to 24 for 3 inside the four overs of Powerplay. Perry was judicious in her shot selection.
Hayley Matthews (2/18) bowled a flighted off-break that breached Sophie Devine’s defence to draw first blood.
Skipper Smriti Mandhana (10) holed out in the deep cover region off a Nat Sciver-Brunt delivery that stopped a bit on the southpaw and Disha Kasat (0), who simply failed to get going, was caught by Pooja Vastrakar inside the 30 yard circle off left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque (2/18).
Brief scores: RCB 135/6 in 20 ovs (Ellyse Perry 66; Hayley Matthews 2/18, Nat Sciver-Brunt 2/18) vs MI 130/6 in 20 ovs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 23, Harmanpreet Kaur 33, Amelia Kerr 27 not out). RCB won by 5 runs.