A day after Harmanpreet Kaur's fiery match-winning 48-ball 95 for Mumbai Indians against Gujarat Giants at Delhi's Ferozeshah Kotla ground raised the pitch in the Women's Premier League (WPL), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) came close to replicating the effect against hosts and last year's runners-up Delhi Capitals (DC).
However, they fell one-run short despite Richa Ghosh's stunning 29-ball 51 as the hosts snatched victory to sail through to the playoffs in style. Chasing DC's 181/5, RCB stumbled in the last over as they were restricted to 180/7 in 20 overs with Ghosh run out on the last ball. With 17 runs needed off the last six balls, Ghosh charged ahead hitting two sixes off Jess Jonasan's bowling, but faltered in the end as DC earned the win.
Harmanpreet stars in MI win
A heist was pulled off by Mumbai Indians on Saturday, courtesy their captain Harmanpreet Kaur. It was a difficult chase at the start and nearly became impossible when Yastika Bhatia (49) gave a return catch to Ashleigh Gardner in the 14th over. At this point, MI required 93 runs from 39 deliveries to win against Gujarat Giants. The required rate was more than 15 runs per over. Harmanpreet was batting at 19 off 20 balls. Then something flipped. A switch was turned on.
Harmanpreet blasted 76 off the next 28 balls she faced to pull off a stunning seven-wicket victory for her team. The Indian team captain finished with a breathtaking unbeaten 95 to her name. A six Harmanpreet hit off Gardner’s bowling in the 20th over measured at 90m – a distance hardly seen in women’s cricket.
Perry takes Bangalore to playoffs
Ellyse Perry was nothing less than 'Precious' for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as they beat Mumbai Indians (MI) by seven wickets with five overs to spare at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday, to make it to the playoffs of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2024.
Perry scored 40 and added an unbeaten 74 with Richa Ghosh (36) after RCB were left gasping at 39/3 in 6.1 overs, chasing a low but tricky target of 114 to win. Earlier, RCB restricted MI to 113 as they bowled the opposition out in 19 overs. Perry was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 6/15, which are the best in the history of the league. Sajana Sajeevan top-scored for the Mumbai side with 30 runs to her name. RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana won the toss and decided to bowl first.
Gujarat Giants stay alive
Gujarat Giants stayed alive in the race for the Playoffs of the WPL after their 8-run win against the UP Warriorz at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Monday. Even after a loss, Warriorz too is mathematically in with a chance for one spot alongside RCB. Deepti Sharma took the Warriorz right till the end even as they were 35/5 in seven overs while chasing 153 to win the match. Deepti scored an unbeaten 88 off just 60 balls and added 109 for the sixth wicket. Earlier, Mooney hit 21 in the last over to smash an unbeaten 74 off 52 balls and took her team to 152/8 in their 20 overs against the Warriorz. In the last over, she hit Warriorz bowler Sophie Ecclestione for 21. Before that over Eccelstone had picked up three wickets for 17 runs. Apart from Mooney, only Laura Wolvaardt was able to put pressure on the opposition with her 30-ball 43.
