RCB Women vs MI Women, Eliminator at Delhi, WPL, Mar 15 2024 - Match Result

11:20pm And....breathe. What a topsy-turvy tournament this has been, and it probably deserved a game full of ebbs and flows to decide who will contest the match that matters. RCB held their nerve, MI did not, and it will now be the Delhi Capitals versus the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final. We hope you enjoyed our coverage and do join us for one last time this WPL on Sunday. Until then, this is goodbye from all of us. Goodnight and take care!

Ellyse Perry, Player of the Match: We are just ecstatic to play in the final now. Defending a really low total, it was awesome. We kept it pretty calm in the end. Some awesome performances by the spinners to finish the game. (On the secret to her success) You have to take the opportunities that come your way. It has been nice for me in the last couple of matches. The way we stayed calm in the back end of our bowling innings was exceptional. The group has come a long way since last year and we have enjoyed each other's company, on the field and off it. Overall, we hung in there, girls kept contributing. They all added to the runs on the board. We were a little under-par (on the total) but super effort to finish the way we did.

Smriti Mandhana, Royal Challengers Bangalore captain: What a match! Still the feeling has not sunk in. We felt we were 20 runs short. But the way everyone just bowled and fielded, that was amazing. 130 is always a total where you don't know if you want to go for it or be defensive, and that is why you always have a chance. Last over by Asha was amazing. (What the turning point was) Harmanpreet's wicket I think, we have seen her finish games. The 19th over from Sophie, that really made a lot of difference. (On Perry) What do I say of her. She is a legend. Even with three wickets down, she kept going. (On making the final) Feels unreal. After the last match, we thought we were playing good cricket. Today morning too, it was a great feeling. Winning the toss was great but after going to 20-3, I was like what have I done. Then we got up to 130 (135). Cricket is a funny game and that is one thing I have been taught (by the game). One more day of good training and we come back on Sunday.

Harmanpreet Kaur, Mumbai Indians captain: We bowled really well to restrict them to under 140. Batting was also good but in the last 12 balls, we could not bat well. We just needed one boundary and we were not able to get it. That is what this game always teaches you. It puts you under pressure and you have to keep learning from it. When we lost my wicket, our batters could not hold their nerve, that was the turning point. She (Sajana) is someone who can hit the ball really hard, and that is what we want the WPL to do, to create more young players. (Message to the team and the fans) We fought really hard. This season was a little up and down. Last season we did really well. we learned a lot and hopefully next season, we can come back hard.

Gerogia Wareham: (On how they won) I am actually not really sure, we just fought till the end. Whenever we came together, we talked about staying there and hanging in there. (On what made Mandhana bat first) I have no idea (laughs). It worked out for us at the end of the day. (On the pre-match talk) Smriti was one of the leaders, Pez and Devine as well. They were trying to keep us calm and not get too over-hyped. Having the experience of these guys helped us keep a level head, and it was really cool. I swung as hard as I possibly could, sometimes it comes off, sometimes it does not. Not sure about that. I just like to take every opportunity to have an impact in the game, whether it be for 10 balls or for more than that. (On Perry) She is so experienced, dug us out of a hole and gave us something to defend. To have someone like that on your team is invaluable and lucky she is playing for RCB. (On the atmosphere) It is hard to hear yourself think, it is so loud. The crowd yelling out Perry and Smriti's name is really cool. Hopefully we can go one better and win on Sunday.

10:53pm Phew, what a game. Mumbai, though, will wonder how in the world it got to this. They needed 32 off 24, and then required only 20 off 18. But then, RCB applied the squeeze. Shreyanka bowled a superb 18th over in which she also accounted for Harmanpreet. Molineux turned the screw further before Asha held her nerve right at the death.

Prior to that, Perry had done magnificently through the middle overs, both to keep the runs down and to pick up the wicket of Yastika. Shreyanka, overall, was exceptional, as was Molineux. Wareham came in for a bit of tap but she did outwit Sciver-Brunt, which in the grand scheme of things, turned out to be a crucial moment.

While RCB deserve plenty of credit, MI will feel gutted at having given up their crown this way. They had the game probably where they wanted it but just could not get past the finish line. The wicket of Harmanpreet was perhaps decisive. Not just because MI seemed in control up till that point, but also because none of those who came in showed composure.

Lots of discussion in different parts of the field. We are finally good to go. It has all come down to this..

Seven needed off the final ball. If Kerr hits a six, we go into a Super Over....

Amanjot walks in, with MI needing 8 off 2

11 off 5 now. Long off, deep cover, long on and deep square leg on the fence

Asha to bowl the final over. Big decision. Ahead of Devine and Renuka. Vastrakar on strike. 12 needed off six balls

Vastrakar is the new batter in

Back to around the wicket

Over the wicket now

Sajana on strike. Molineux stays around the wicket

16 off 12. Molineux to bowl. Kerr on strike. Sajana at the other end

Shreyanka to bowl the 18th. 20 needed off 18

Rahul Kapoor: "Statement last shot by Harmanpreet showing who's in charge!"