RCB's valiant performance goes in vain as MI clinch final-over thriller

RCB’s victory run in the WPL came to a halt last night as an oscillating battle between the two powerhouses of WPL met a thrilling end with MI walking away with the bragging rights. Winning the toss at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, MI opted to bowl first but Smriti Mandhana got RCB off to a good start.

The hosts' skipper was in phenomenal touch, blasting 26 off just 13 but Danni Wyatt-Hodge couldn’t really make it big as she fell for nine. However, an incoming Ellyse Perry emerged as the ever-reliable deliverer of the payload for RCB. Perry battled at one end with fierce resolve despite the constant fall of wickets at the other.

Reduced to 57/4, RCB needed a partnership desperately. Richa Ghosh (28) provided a crucial stand at the other end, knitting together a stand of 50 runs for the fifth wicket. The fall of Richa saw Perry taking over the reins as she battled till the very end, smashing 81 off just 43 balls. Pez whacked 11 fours and two sixes, pushing RCB’s tally to a fighting 167/7.

Kim Garth’s early strike did send Yastika Bhatia (8) back to the pavilion in no time whatsoever. However, Nat Sciver-Brunt (42) stabilized the ship with a constant flow of boundaries, before Ekta Bisht broke the partnership between Sciver-Brunt and Hayley Matthews as the latter fell for 15. Brunt was also back to the pavilion with Kim Garth rattling through the gates, blowing life back into to the game.

Georgia Wareham picked up the big wicket of Amelia Kerr (2), leaving Mumbai Indians in some trouble. However, Harmanpreet Kaur (50) and Amanjot Kaur (34*) proved to be the difference makers for Mumbai Indians. Wareham's 18th over was an absolute game-changer that saw RCB clinch a couple of quick wickets. Wareham first removed Harmanpreet as the MI skipper edged one to Richa Ghosh, and the Australian followed it up with the big wicket of Sajeevan Sajana for a golden duck, leaving MI in a kettle of complications.

Despite the twists and turns, Amanjot Kaur saw through the remainder of the road for MI, smashing two sixes in the 19th over, reducing the equation to six runs needed off six balls. A boundary through cover point sealed the deal for MI in the 20th over, but despite the loss, RCB's resolve with the ball stood out.