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Ellyse Perry showed why she is considered one of the best women cricketers to play the game as she single-handedly helped Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) book an eliminator berth in Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024. First, Perry took six wickets for just 15 runs to break Marizanne Kapp’s record for best bowling figures in WPL history. Then, she played a patient knock of an unbeaten 40 to guide RCB home with a seven-wicket win.
The win also meant that UP Warriorz (UPW) and Gujarat Giants (GG) have been knocked out of the playoffs contention. The last league stage clash between Delhi Capitals (DC) and GG is likely to be a near-dead rubber as the Meg Lanning-led side will get a direct entry to the final until and unless they suffer a defeat by a massive margin.
Perry show in must-win game
Smriti Mandhana won the toss and opted to bowl first in RCB’s must-win game. Hayley Matthews and S Sajana got them off to a good start in the powerplay overs. Sophie Devine broke the partnership with Matthews' wicket. She scored 26 runs from 23 balls including two sixes and as many fours. Sajana accelerated but Perry put an end to her stay at the crease. She got bowled for a 21-ball 30 featuring five fours and a six. On the next ball, MI skipper Harmanpreet Kaur got bowled as well.
In her next over, Perry continued to bring the ball back into the batter. First Amelia Kerr got out lbw then Amanjot Kaur got bowled. In her last over, she got the wickets of Pooja Vastrakar and Nat Sciver-Brunt to create history. She conceded just 15 runs and picked up six wickets. In the slog overs, apart from Priyanka Bala, no batter tried to bat till the end. MI were bowled out for 113 in 19 overs. Bala remained unbeaten for 19 runs from 18 balls.
Perry, Ghosh take RCB over the line
RCB's run chase did not get off to an ideal start. Despite the dropped catch, Sophie Molineux could not score big. She got stumped in the fourth over bowled by Matthews. In the next over, Sciver-Brunt dismissed skipper Mandhana. Perry tried to help improve the scoring rate. She hit the first six of the innings in the sixth over. Shabnim Ismail got rid of Devine to put pressure on RCB as they lost three wickets for 39 runs.
Perry and Richa Ghosh accelerated in the middle overs after playing themselves in. Their unbeaten 76-run partnership led RCB home. Perry finished the match with a boundary. She scored 40 runs from 38 balls including five fours and a six. On the other end, Ghosh scored 36 runs from 28 balls including four fours and a couple of sixes.
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