harmanpreet kaur ( Photo Source : X / Twitter )
Mumbai Indians Women (MI-W) failed to defend their title in the second season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL 2024) as they got knocked out of the tournament following a loss against Royal Challengers Bangalore Women in the Eliminator Match. After opting to bat first, RCB posted a respectable total of 135/6 in their allotted 20 overs.
In reply, Mumbai were in control of the chase as they needed 20 runs to win off the last three overs having seven wickets in hand. However, they failed to get over the line losing three wickets and scoring just 14 runs out in the last 18 balls. Following Mumbai’s loss, captain Harmanpreet Kaur reflected on her side’s poor performances and highlighted their inability to score a boundary off the last two balls.
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“We bowled well, we restricted them to under 140. Batting was also good but in the last 12 balls, we did not bat well. In 12 balls, we needed just one boundary, we were not able to get that. This game always teaches you and puts you under pressure, you need to learn from it. When we lost my wicket, our batters could not hold their nerve, that was the turning point,” Harmanpreet said after the game.
All-rounder Ellyse Perry starred with the bat for RCB as she played a magnificent knock of 66 (50) with the help of eight fours and a six. She rescued her side from 49/4 and guided them to a score of 135/6. In reply, Mumbai were cruising for a win needing just 20 runs off the last three overs with captain Kaur (33 off 30) and Amelia Kerr (27 off 25) at the crease.
Asha Sobhana defends 12 runs in the last over
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However, Shreyanka Patil got the prized scalp of Kaur in the 18th over while Sophie Molineux dismissed Sajeevan Sajana in the 19th over with both giving away just four runs each. Later, Asha Sobhana successfully defended 12 runs in the last over to set up a five-run win for their side.
Courtesy of their win, RCB qualified for the final of the tournament and will take on Delhi Capitals Women on Sunday, March 17 in the summit clash.