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Ellyse Perry ran the show as Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated defending champions Mumbai Indians in the WPL 2024 Qualifiers, on Friday. With the win, RCB entered the final, where they will face Delhi Capitals. Perry was on fire, performing with both bat and ball as RCB sealed a narrow five-run victory.
The match began with RCB captain Smriti Mandhana winning the toss and opting to bat. RCB got off to a stuttering start, losing openers Mandhana (10) and Sophie Devine (10) early. Meanwhile, no. Batsman 4 Disha Kasat was dismissed for a seven-ball duck. But Perry came to the rescue, just as she did in her final league game against the same opponent. Batting at no. 3, Perry blasted 66 off 50 balls, with eight fours and a six, as RCB posted 135/6 in 20 overs, setting a target of 136 runs.
Chasing 136, MI could only reach 130/6 in 20 overs, with captain Harmanpreet Kaur top-scoring for her team with a knock of 33 runs off 30 balls. Meanwhile, Shreyanka Patil took two wickets for RCB and Perry, Sophie Molineux, Georgia Wareham and Sobhana Asha got a dismissal each.
After the match, Man of the Match Perry received a special gift from one of the WPL’s sponsors. During the league phase, the Australian all-rounder scored a huge six against UP Warriorz, which crashed through the window of a cat that was parked near the boundary. Perry received the broken window, which was also framed, as a gift for his winning exhibit.
Speaking after the match, Perry said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to be in the final. To defend a total as low as that is incredible. The girls kept their cool and the spinners’ performance at the end was quite impressive. You have to Take advantage of the opportunity when it arrives. “It was good for me the last two games, my path has fallen off.”
“The way we stayed calm against such a good team is exceptional. The way the girls bonded after last season and really enjoyed each other’s company on and off the field. Overall, we held on, the girls continued to chip in. “The old saying about running the board in a big game is true, I guess, and so it was tonight. “I can’t wait (for the final),” she added.
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