Determined RCB block MI's direct path to the final

Despite not being in contention for a spot in the last three, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru exited WPL 2025 in style with a spirited effort that denied Mumbai Indians a direct path to the final. With a combined effort with both bat and ball, RCB defeated MI by 11 runs in the season's last league game, advancing Delhi Capitals to the final for the third consecutive year. As a result, MI will meet the Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator.

MI did not get off to a good start in the PowerPlay, despite the fact that they needed to find 200 points to advance to the final. Hayley Matthews blasted one for a boundary first up; MI's PowerPlay score remained unimpressive, as Sneh Rana dismissed both openers, leaving MI at 45 for two after six overs. With those two wickets, it was now up to the veteran duo of Nat Sciver-Brunt and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur to reignite the pursuit.

Unfortunately for the home team, Kim Garth put an end to any such hopes as Harmanpreet edged a leg cutter behind to fall for an 18-ball 20. Nat Sciver-Brunt was the only MI batter to put up a fight, hitting boundaries at regular intervals to keep her team's waning hopes alive. After selecting Heather Graham for a four and a six in back-to-back deliveries, Sciver-Brunt also faced Rana and Perry this season, bringing her total to above 400 for the first time in WPL history. But, with so much to accomplish, she had no choice but to try to reach the ropes repeatedly, and in the process, she top-edged a delivery and left, leaving her team requiring 71 from 31.

Rana's night improved as she concluded her spell by dismissing Yastika Bhatia as MI sank swiftly. By this point, the pursuit appeared to have fizzled out, with RCB scooping up wickets at the death. However, with the tail also contributing with boundaries, Sajeevan Sajana gave the bowling side a minor fright in the final over despite MI needing 28 to win. Perry's disastrous evening with the ball saw her bowl two wides and give two sixes, reducing the equation to 12 off 3. However, the Australian all-rounder recovered and ensured MI did not add to their total with the final three deliveries.

Earlier in the evening, RCB's impressive finish resulted in a score of 199. Smriti Mandhana, who had only scored 28 runs in her previous four games, made an impressive debut for RCB alongside Sabbhineni Meghana. While facing Shabnim Ismail, Meghana went berserk against Matthews, racing to 26 off only 12 before the West Indian got the last laugh.

Following the dismissal, the scoring rate dropped briefly until Mandhana blasted Amelia Kerr for two sixes and a four in an over to give her team a much-needed boost. Perry, on the other end, did not appear to be at her fluent best, striking at less than 100, while Mandhana rushed to her half-century with successive boundaries.

Any chances the bowling side had of restricting RCB to a par score after that were dashed when Richa Ghosh came in with a crucial cameo. Perry made up for lost time and began contributing with bounds. However, it was Georgia Wareham's performance right at the end that took MI off stride, as RCB scored 39 runs from the last 12 deliveries. Perry was essentially a spectator at the other end as Wareham hit five fours and a six in a spectacular undefeated 31 from only ten deliveries, much to MI's chagrin. Given the final margin of victory, Wareham was clearly the difference maker.

Brief score: RCB W 199/3 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 53, Ellyse Perry 49; Hayley Matthews 2/37) defeated MI W 188/9 in 20 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 69; Sneh Rana 3/26, Kim Garth 2/33) by 11 runs.