Royal Challengers Bangalore Women (RCB) clinched the nail-biter against Mumbai Indians (MI) to advance to the final of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024. The Eliminator of the tournament took place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
The game between the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Mumbai Indians went down the wire and it kept many on their feet. In the chase of 136 runs, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side looked like favorites to win the game because they took complete control of the game.
However, things changed completely during the fag end of the game. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) women picked wickets and put Mumbai Indians under pressure. With 12 runs needed in the last over, the Smriti Mandhana-led side had no frontline bowlers.
Skipper Mandhana then turned to Asha Sobhana and she made sure that she paid the trust off her skipper. She bowled terrificly well and defended the target for the team. She didn’t concede a single boundary in her over and helped the team win the game by 5 runs.
What caught the attention of many was Asha Sobhana’s celebration after she won the game for her team. She replicated Suryakumar Yadav’s“I’m here, don’t worry” celebration. The Mumbai Indians batter had made the same gesture after he won his team game against Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2020.
Here’s the video:
𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻 #𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗪𝗣𝗟 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗖𝗕 👏@RCBTweets secure a 5-run win over #MI in an edge of the seat thriller in Delhi 📍🤝
They will now play @DelhiCapitals on 17th March! ⌛️
Scorecard ▶️https://t.co/QzNEzVGRhA#MIvRCB | #Eliminator pic.twitter.com/0t2hZeGXNj
— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) March 15, 2024
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Women deserve a lot of credit for the way they kept coming back into the game at crucial stages. Opting to bat first, they were left tottering at 49/4 and it seemed that they would get out under 100. But it was Ellyse Perry, who stepped her for the team.
Ellyse Perry ended with an innings of 66 runs off 50 balls. Her innings was laced with 8 fours and 1 six in her innings. Her vital role with the bat powered Royal Challengers Bangalore women to a total of 135 runs in their quota of 20 overs.
With the ball, they picked early wickets but during the time Mumbai Indians skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (33) was batting, the game seemed to be in their grasp. But Shreyanka Patil turned the game for her team as she gave away 4 runs and removed the opposition’s captain. Before Asha Sobhana won the game for RCB.
I’m really happy that RCB is in the final – Smriti Mandhana
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Smriti Mandhana opened up about the win her team bagged against Mumbai Indians. She admitted that the feeling hadn’t sunk in for her. She also lauded Asha Sobhana for her efforts.
She also expressed her delight in seeing Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final of the WPL 2024 and was hopeful of winning the title. Speaking to broadcasters, she explained:
“What a match. Still, this feeling has not sunk in. At the halfway mark, we felt we were 20 runs short. But the way we bowled and fielded was amazing. 130 is a total where you are not sure whether to attack or defend, but the last over from Asha was unreal.
“Feels unreal. After the last match, we thought we were playing good cricket, winning the toss was great, but at 30/3 I was like, what have I done! 130-odd and cricket is a funny game and that’s what taught me to keep going. I’m really happy that RCB is in the final. One more day of good training and come back the day after,” she concluded.
