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'Really have to tell Perry we are sorry. How could we not...': Smriti Mandhana's emotional apology to Australia's Ellyse after super over loss

In-form Ellyse Perry stood out with her all-round performance in RCB's narrow defeat against UP Warriorz at home in their fourth WPL 2025 encounter.

Sports Tak

• Tue • 25 Feb 2025

RCB's Ellyse Perry during her unbeaten 90 against UP Warriorz; captain Smriti Mandhana in post-match presentation.

Highlights:

Ellyse Perry scored an unbeaten 90 and then took 2 wickets for 10 runs in 2 overs.

Perry was not sent to bat in the super over.

Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh managed to score runs 4 runs in super over.

The Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 witnessed a thrilling encounter on February 24 as UP Warriorz beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in tournament's first ever super over. In front of the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, Ellyse Perry put on a slow with her unbeaten 56-ball 90 featuring nine fours and three sixes. Despite her all-round performance, RCB scored just four runs chasing nine runs in the super over. After the match, captain Smriti Mandhana who batted in super over despite a single-digit score, apologised to her Australian teammate.

"Always good to have Pez back bowling. An all-rounder like her, she is one of the greatest in women's cricket. Brilliant to watch (her batting). As a team, really have to tell her sorry…how could we not win that game for her," Mandhana said in the post-match presentation.

Mandhana was disappointed after not being able to get her team over the line. She did not criticise her bowlers.

"Disappointing to be on the losing side today. Did a lot of things right, throughout the batting and the bowling innings. These things happen, we will take it and come back stronger. (On the powerplay) I have been very positive throughout the tournament but went into a shell a little bit. We have a few days, we will work on it and come back stronger," the opener said.

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Late drama at Chinnaswamy Stadium

UP Warriorz lost nine wickets for 161 in the penultimate over. In the final over, they needed 18 runs to win. After a dot ball, Ecclestone hit Renuka Singh for two sixes and a four. With two runs needed off final two balls, Ecclestone reluctantly took a single after miscommunication with Kranti Goud. On the last ball, Kranti missed the ball and Ecclestone was run out by Richa Ghosh trying to take a single as the game went into super over.

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Then Kim Garth bowled the super over and UP Warriorz managed to score eight runs. Ecclestone was the third batter and scored one run off two balls. Then Ecclestone conceded just four singles against Mandhana and Ghosh to guide UP Warriorz to a famous win.

Rematch for RCB

Despite the defeat, RCB are on top with two wins and as many losses from four games but a higher net run rate (NRR) than Mumbai Indians, UP Warriorz and Delhi Capitals. They will have a chance to avenge their super over defeat against UP Warriorz on February 26.