Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the defending champions, concluded their season on a high note by defeating Mumbai Indians (MI) by 11 runs in a Women’s Premier League (WPL) match on Tuesday. This victory prevented Mumbai Indians from securing a direct spot in the WPL 2025 final.
As a result of this match, Delhi Capitals (DC) have now automatically qualified for the final, which is scheduled for March 15th at the same venue. Mumbai Indians will now compete against Gujarat Giants in the eliminator match on March 13th.
Delhi Capitals will be making their third consecutive appearance in the final and are hoping to finally win the championship title.
Batting first, RCB set a formidable score of 199 for three, thanks to impressive performances from captain Smriti Mandhana, who scored 53 runs off 37 balls, Ellyse Perry (49 runs off 38 balls), Richa Ghosh (36 runs off 22 balls), and Georgia Wareham (31 runs off just 10 balls).
In response, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 188 for nine. Despite both MI and DC finishing the league stage with five wins each, Delhi Capitals secured the direct final spot due to a superior net run rate.
Sajeevan Sajana briefly ignited MI’s hopes with a quickfire 23 runs off 12 balls before being dismissed by Perry.
Mumbai Indians had a poor start to their innings, falling to 38 for two wickets within the first six overs. Nat Sciver-Brunt kept their chase alive with a strong innings of 69 runs off 35 balls, but she was eventually dismissed by Perry.
In terms of bowling, Sneh Rana was particularly effective for RCB, taking 3 wickets for 26 runs in her four overs. Georgia Wareham also bowled well, taking 1 wicket for 29 runs in four overs.
Kim Garth contributed with two wickets for 33 runs, helping RCB secure the victory.
Earlier in the match, RCB’s innings got off to a fast start with openers Smriti Mandhana and Sabbhineni Meghana putting together 41 runs quickly. Meghana was then dismissed for 26 runs off 13 balls after an entertaining cameo at the Brabourne Stadium.
Smriti Mandhana, after a season of struggles, initiated RCB’s scoring with a boundary off Shabnim Ismail.
Meghana also attacked Nat Sciver-Brunt, hitting her for two boundaries in the second over.
With RCB already out of contention for the next stage, captain Mandhana played freely, hitting boundaries and sixes.
Meghana continued her aggressive play, hitting Hayley Matthews for multiple boundaries and a six.
However, Matthews managed to dismiss Meghana, who was caught at short fine leg.
After a slightly slower period, RCB reached 53 for one wicket at the end of the powerplay overs.
Amanjot Kaur bowled a tight over, conceding only two runs, but Amelia Kerr’s over proved expensive as Mandhana hit her for two sixes, resulting in 22 runs from that over. RCB’s score reached 77 for one after eight overs.
Amanjot Kaur continued to bowl well, and Sanskriti Gupta also bowled a good over, conceding just four runs.
Meanwhile, Mandhana reached her half-century with two boundaries off Parunika Sisodia.
In the 12th over bowled by Kerr, she dropped a catch of Perry, and Sanskriti dropped a catch of Mandhana. However, Mandhana was eventually dismissed, caught by Ismail.
Perry, along with Ghosh and Wareham, then accelerated RCB’s innings. Hayley Matthews was the most successful bowler for MI, taking 2 wickets for 37 runs.
