Women’s Premier League: Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Mumbai Indians in eliminator to reach final

Royal Challengers Bangalore reached the Women’s Premier League final with a thrilling five-run win over defending champions Mumbai Indians in Delhi.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur fell for 33 to spark the collapse, while leg-spinner Sobhana Asha successfully defended 12 from the last over.

RCB will face Delhi Capitals in Sunday’s final at the same venue.

Mumbai were in control for most of the match, reducing RCB to 23-3 after they chose to bat first.

But Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry’s 66 from 50 balls led RCB’s recovery to post 135-6, with international team-mate Georgia Wareham’s last-ball six providing some late momentum and a crucial contribution given the eventual margin of victory.

It still looked a below-par total after Mumbai’s impressive all-round bowling effort, with two wickets apiece for England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt, West Indies’ Hayley Matthews and India spinner Saika Ishaque.

Sciver-Brunt made 23 from 17 balls with the bat as Mumbai calmly chipped away at their target but RCB’s bowlers fought well, ensuring the run-rate remained under control throughout.

Spinner Shreyanka Patil, 21, claimed the huge wicket of Harmanpreet at the end of the 17th over as she finished with figures of 2-16. Sophie Molineux then dismissed Sajeevan Sajana for one and Asha removed Pooja Vastrakar to all-but seal the victory.

New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr finished unbeaten on 27, needing to hit a six from the last ball to take the game to a super over only for Asha to hold her nerve.

Delhi Capitals progressed straight to the final after finishing top of the group, which they also achieved in 2023, while it will be RCB’s first showpiece after failing to reach last year’s knockouts.

Commentary of Sunday’s final will be available on the BBC Sport website and app from 13:55 BST.

‘It feels unreal’ – reaction

Player of the match Ellyse Perry on Sky Sports: “I’m ecstatic to reach the final. It’s always amazing to win a close game like that and the way the spinners closed out the game was fantastic. The past few matches have been good for me but it was a team effort against a very, very good team. We have come a long way from last year and we are loving each other’s company and keeping it simple on the field.”

Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Smriti Mandhana on Sky Sports: “It hasn’t sunk in yet. We felt we were 20 runs short but I am so proud of the bowling and fielding effort. It feels unreal to reach our first final. At 23-3 I was thinking, what have we done? But cricket has taught me to always keep going and you never know what could happen.”

Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur on Sky Sports: “We bowled really well and we were happy to keep them to 140. We had 13 balls to score 16 and we couldn’t get the boundaries we needed. We have to keep learning under these pressure moments.”