Perry’s 81 Goes in Vain as RCB Suffer their 1st WPL 2025 Defeat
The seventh match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 saw a thrilling contest between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Bengaluru stadium on Friday. The match was a rollercoaster ride of emotions for both teams, but in the end, MI emerged victorious by four wickets, handing RCB their first defeat of the tournament.
Ellyse Perry, the Australian all-rounder, stole the show with a magnificent 81 off 43 deliveries, helping RCB post a competitive total of 168 runs. However, Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten 50 off 38 balls was the difference-maker for MI, as she guided her team to a thrilling victory with 5 balls to spare.
RCB’s innings got off to a fantastic start, thanks to Perry’s blitzkrieg. She smashed 11 fours and 4 sixes, taking her team to 60 runs in just 6 overs. The partnership between Perry and Smriti Mandhana, who scored 24 off 23 balls, laid the foundation for a big total. However, MI’s bowlers, led by Nat Sciver-Brunt, who took 2/24, and Pooja Vastrakar, who took 1/26, did an excellent job of pegging back the runs towards the end.
In response, MI’s innings was marked by a brilliant partnership between Harmanpreet Kaur and Yastika Bhatia. The duo put together 71 runs in 9 overs, setting the tone for MI’s chase. Harmanpreet, who has been in excellent form throughout the tournament, took the responsibility of guiding her team to victory, smashing 5 fours and 2 sixes in her unbeaten knock.
The match was a see-saw affair, with both teams trading blows. At one point, MI looked set to win comfortably, but RCB’s bowlers, led by Asha Shafiq, who took 2/23, and Renuka Singh, who took 1/29, did an excellent job of keeping the pressure on. However, Harmanpreet’s calm and composed batting ensured that MI stayed ahead of the game.
In the end, it was a thrilling finish, with MI requiring 12 runs off the last over. Harmanpreet calmly dispatched the first four and then took a single to take her team to the brink of victory. The final delivery was a dot ball, and MI celebrated their victory, much to the delight of their fans.
The result saw RCB stay at the top of the WPL 2025 points table, while MI climbed to second place, leapfrogging Delhi Capitals. The tournament has been marked by some thrilling contests, and this match was no exception. Both teams will look to build on their performances in their upcoming matches.
As the WPL 2025 continues to unfold, fans can expect even more exciting contests between the teams. The tournament has already seen some thrilling finishes, and this match was a testament to the level of competition on display. With some of the best players in the world competing, the WPL 2025 promises to be an unmissable event.
