Despite being out of contention for a top-three finish, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the defending champions, concluded their WPL 2025 campaign impressively. They delivered a spirited performance to deny Mumbai Indians a direct path to the final. Through a combined batting and bowling effort, RCB defeated MI by 11 runs in the season’s final league match. This result propelled Delhi Capitals into the final for the third consecutive year, while Mumbai Indians will now face Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator.
Chasing a target of 200 to secure a place in the final, Mumbai Indians had a slow start in the powerplay. Although Hayley Matthews began aggressively with boundaries, Mumbai’s powerplay score remained modest. Sneh Rana dismissed both openers, leaving MI at 45 for 2 after six overs. This situation placed pressure on the experienced pair of Nat Sciver-Brunt and captain Harmanpreet Kaur to rebuild the innings.
However, Kim Garth curtailed these hopes when Harmanpreet was caught behind for 20 off 18 balls. Nat Sciver-Brunt was the lone fighter for MI, consistently hitting boundaries to keep her team’s dim hopes alive. She reached her fifty and surpassed 400 runs for the season, becoming the first player in WPL history to achieve this milestone. Needing a large score, Sciver-Brunt attempted big hits but eventually top-edged a delivery and was dismissed, leaving her team needing 71 runs from 31 balls.
Rana further improved her performance by taking the wicket of Yastika Bhatia, worsening MI’s position. RCB continued to take wickets, seemingly ending the chase. Despite some late boundaries from the tailenders, Sajeevan Sajana caused a minor scare in the final over when MI needed 28 runs to win. Perry conceded wides and sixes, reducing the equation to 12 off 3 balls. However, Perry recovered and prevented MI from scoring in the final three deliveries.
Earlier, RCB’s strong finish led them to a total of 199. Smriti Mandhana, after a series of low scores, returned to form, providing RCB with a rapid start alongside Sabbhineni Meghana. While Mandhana attacked Shabnim Ismail, Meghana aggressively scored against Matthews before being dismissed.
The scoring rate briefly slowed after Meghana’s dismissal, but Mandhana counter-attacked, hitting Amelia Kerr for multiple boundaries. Perry initially played cautiously but then began contributing with boundaries. Richa Ghosh also added a valuable cameo. Georgia Wareham’s explosive hitting at the end surprised MI as RCB scored 39 runs in the final two overs. Wareham’s unbeaten 31 off just 10 balls, including five fours and a six, proved crucial, making her the difference-maker in RCB’s victory.
Brief scores: 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
