Under the leadership of Smriti Mandhana, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) overcame a poor first season and won the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 against a consistent Meg Lanning-led Delhi Capitals (DC). After bowling out DC for a below par 113, RCB had a few setbacks in the run chase but won the final with eight wickets and three balls to spare.
RCB’s wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh ended the run chase with a boundary off Arundhati Reddy’s third ball of the final over, RCB clinched their maiden WPL title despite finishing third on the points table with four wins from eight games.
As the ball crossed the boundary line, RCB players rushed to the ground. Asha Sobhana was in tears and hugged her teammate Kate Cross. Mandhana was expressive at first and then congratulated the support staff while RCB players jumped in the huddle.
Orange and Purple Cap winners
Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry found form at the right time with both bat and ball. Indian off-spinner Shreyanka Patil won the purple cap despite missing two games due to a hairline fracture. With 13 wickets from eight games including a four-fer in the final, she won the ‘Emerging Player of the Tournament’.
“Pretty bonkers to be honest. It's another level for us - the support for all the teams has been phenomenal and it's been unbelievable. [on Richa Ghosh] She is unbelievable, for such a young player, she has got so many shots, we were cool and we felt we had to stay in the game and it took longer than it should have been,” Perry said after RCB’s win at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.
Perry lauds spinners
Perry praised spinners Sophie Molineux's three-wicket over and Shreyanka's spell to bundle out Delhi Capitals despite a fiery start.
“[on Molineux] She turned the match on its head. The rest of the spinners backed her up. Shreyanka is such a young player and she has got the world at her feet, that was a special performance. That was awesome. Sophie [Devine] and Shreyanka will be owning the stage, they are goat dancers,” the veteran all-rounder said.
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