New Delhi, Mar 16:
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 135/6, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Mumbai faltered in the chase, 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.Ellyse Perry stood tall amid ruins with yet another elegant knock but Royal Challengers Bangalore could only manage a below-par 135 for 6 against Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League ‘Eliminator’ here on Friday.
Perry’s 66 off 50 balls was the cornerstone of RCB’s total after their top-order was blown away by a disciplined MI attack, reducing them to 24 for 3 inside the four overs of Powerplay.
Hayley Matthews (2/18 in 4 overs) bowled a flighted off-break that breached veteran Sophie Devine’s defence to draw the first blood.
Skipper Smriti Mandhana (10) was 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 in 4 overs).
Richa Ghosh hit a six but it wasn’t her day as Matthews slightly altered the length and the keeper-batter mistimed after failing to reach to the pitch of the delivery.
Perry was, however, at her stylish best with some crisp boundaries and a straight six off Saika but the best shot was the late cut bisecting the point and short third-man off Shabnim Ismail’s delivery.
Perry never had anyone supporting her for a lengthy period and wickets falling at regular interval did also made her judicious in shot selection.
Towards the end, Georgia Wareham (18 not out off 10 balls) used the long handle to good effect and hit a last ball six off Saika to take the team past 130-run mark.
Saika paid the price for Sajeevan Sajana’s poor effort in the deep as she dropped a sitter offered by Wareham.
