END OF OVER:20 | 16 Runs 1 Wkt | MI-W: 188/9 (12 runs required, RR: 9.40)
- Parunika Sisodia0 (1b)
- Shabnim Ismail4 (1b)
- Ellyse Perry4-0-53-2
- Kim Garth4-0-33-2
11:25pm That brings us to the end of our coverage for tonight. The league stage is done and like 2023 and 2024, the Delhi Capitals finish at the top of the standings to go through to the final. The Mumbai Indians, meanwhile, will play yet another Eliminator, and will be up against the Gujarat Giants, making their maiden playoff appearance. That contest will take place on Thursday and we hope to have your company for what promises to be another thriller. Until then, this is goodbye from all of us here at ESPNcricinfo. Take care, folks!
Sneh Rana, Player of the Match: (On her shoulder injury) It is fine now (laughs). (On the bowling plans) Pretty simple for the bowlers - you have to adjust your lengths. We had to take the pace off and adjust our lengths (on this pitch). I am an incoming bowler to the right-handers, so she used me well (bowling with the longer leg-side boundary). The captain has that responsibility to use the bowlers properly and she did that very well. Whenever I feel I can give some inputs to any department, I give it to the players. I was unsold (at the auction) but I want to say thanks to the RCB management for giving me this opportunity. Really thankful and looking forward to the next season.
Smriti Mandhana, Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain: We just discussed that we started on a high and finished on a high but lost a lot of momentum mid-way (smiles). Not having your five or six players who would play in the playing eleven, missing all the bowlers…the way we started, we felt that it will not be a huge thing for us. A lot of tosses did not go our way as well. In cricket, you can say all those things but you have to fight it out as a team and we could not step up - that is something all of us will learn (from). (On using just five bowlers tonight) Whenever I was thinking (to get the others on), Nat was smashing a 12-run over. They (Joshitha and Rawat) are excellent bowlers but I thought about sticking to experience - that is what gets us through. (On her innings) Just wanted to go out and play positive cricket (tonight). Being in touch and not scoring was eating away at me, so nice to contribute (tonight). (On the fans) They are the best fans for a reason. You play in Mumbai, Vadodara, Lucknow, wherever you play, whether you are winning or losing, they keep backing the players and the team. I remember one instance where we lost the fourth game (in Bengaluru) and we needed 25 off one ball, the whole stadium was going "RCB, RCB". Hopefully we can pick ourselves up and give something back next year.
Harmanpreet Kaur, Mumbai Indians captain: This ground is about saving those boundaries. In the last two overs, we gave away 40 runs - that cost us. Otherwise, we were in the game. We knew 180 is chaseable. Those runs cost us and still, our team batted very well. The match was on till Sajana was batting. The way she was batting, we were hoping she could win the match for us. Good to see other batters also come up with contributions. The outfield is very fast (here) and we have to stop boundaries, and that is going to play a big role. We have to come up with some good plans that will help us. (On the wrist injury) I will be fine. (On Kerr opening) We still have one more day before our next game. We will sit and think what is the best for us. (On their past record against the Gujarat Giants) I think we just need to stay calm and in the moment. Cricket is a game of winning small moments. I know we have a great record against them, they are looking good but we have to come up with positive plans and play our best cricket. (On Amanjot Kaur) She is someone who is working in three departments, good to see the way she is performing and contributing. She is a key player for us.
Richa Ghosh: (Season as a batter) It was a good season for me, I built a bit of momentum at the start, struck the ball well today as well. Whenever I get time, I try to spend more time working on my batting and how I can take the team forward, even when early wickets fall and I have to go in early. I back my style and then I see if I need to change anything based on the pitch and the conditions. I am enjoying my keeping more and more.
10:59pm Another enthralling game of cricket, and even though the Mumbai Indians seemed out of it when the final over began, they found a lease of life through Sajana. She smashed successive sixes and for a moment, the impossible was on the cards. But then, Perry did what Perry does, and she came up clutch, despite not having her greatest day with the ball.
Before that final-over drama, RCB, led by their spinners Rana and Wareham, had squeezed MI into submission. The hosts never mustered enough sustained momentum to have a pop at the target, with Sciver-Brunt's knock and Sajana's cameo towards the end the only real worries for RCB. MI now have to do it the hard way, but they will take heart from the fact that they have done this once before, while also knowing that the team that has finished top of the table in the league phase has never ever won the WPL.
Sisodia to face what should be the last ball of this game
S Sajana c Meghana b Perry 23 (23m 12b 1x4 2x6) SR: 191.66
Two sixes, and MI will be home
12 off 3. How are the nerves now, eh?
18 off 4. MI not out of it just yet
24 off 5 now
28 needed off the final over. MI, quite simply, need a miracle here. Perry to bowl
END OF OVER:19 | 16 Runs 1 Wkt | MI-W: 172/8 (28 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 9.05, RRR: 28.00)
- Shabnim Ismail4 (1b)
- Sajeevan Sajana9 (7b)
- Kim Garth4-0-33-2
- Georgia Wareham4-0-29-1
Ismail to try her luck now. She takes an off-stump guard
S Gupta c Joshitha b Garth 10 (5m 4b 2x4 0x6) SR: 250
Around the wicket
44 off 12. MI's race almost run for the night
END OF OVER:18 | 8 Runs 1 Wkt | MI-W: 156/7 (44 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.66, RRR: 22.00)
- Sanskriti Gupta4 (1b)
- Sajeevan Sajana4 (5b)
- Georgia Wareham4-0-29-1
- Heather Graham4-0-47-1
Gupta on strike
G Kamalini c Perry b Wareham 6 (5m 4b 1x4 0x6) SR: 150
Wareham back on. 52 needed off 18
END OF OVER:17 | 14 Runs 1 Wkt | MI-W: 148/6 (52 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.70, RRR: 17.33)
- Sajeevan Sajana2 (3b)
- G Kamalini4 (1b)
- Heather Graham4-0-47-1
- Sneh Rana4-0-26-3
Around the wicket now
Kamalini in at 8
AB Kaur b Graham 17 (29m 15b 1x4 0x6) SR: 113.33