Match 19 of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) saw RCB take on the Mumbai Indians in a must-win clash for the girls in red and gold. Having won the toss the RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana took a bold call to bowl first on a surface that has historically favoured the team batting first. It was now up to her bowlers to deliver the faith that she had shown in them. Things looked grim for RCB as the defending champions got off to a great start until Ellyse Perry was brought on in the sixth over.
With a playoff spot on the line, Ellyse Perry brought out the clutch Aussie in her as she single-handedly ran through the Mumbai Indians’ batting lineup like a hot knife through butter. Stumps Saturday and balls crashing into the pads, a spectacle of seam bowling was on display as the RCB took on the Mumbai Indians in a must-win encounter for the franchise.
Mumbai Indians were off to a great start having lost just a single wicket in the powerplay and having 40 odd runs on the board. The RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana knew that she had to try something different in order to break the Mumbai Indians’ momentum. Immediately after the powerplay, she brought on the bowler with the most experience and since ball one Perry looked lethal and sharp. Having conceded just one run in her first over Perry had the Mumbai Indians on the back foot. Coming back in the second over Perry sent back Sajeevan Sajna and Harmanpreet Kaur on consecutive deliveries and put the Mumbai Indians in deeper trouble. In her next over she accounted for Amelia Kerr and Amanjot Kaur and derailed the Mumbai Indians innings. Her list of victims also included Pooja Vastrakar and Nat Sciver Brunt.
Ellyse Perry now holds the record for the most wickets by a single player in a WPL innings. She recorded the best figures in a WPL innings and also her own personal best of 6 for 16 as she single-handedly demolished the much-feared Mumbai Indians batting lineup.
Facing the formidable Mumbai Indians, Perry stepped up to the challenge and delivered a masterclass in bowling that left spectators in awe. Her figures of 4 overs, conceding just 15 runs while claiming six wickets.
Ellyse Perry Show at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium tonight#CricketTwitter #WPL2024 #MIvRCB pic.twitter.com/vfE8nRJYgb
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) March 12, 2024
First bowler ever to pick 6 wicket-haul in Women's Premier League ❤️
Ellyse Perry, the GOAT 🐐#CricketTwitter #WPL2024 #MIvRCB pic.twitter.com/qMcz3utiCv
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) March 12, 2024
TAKE A BOW, ELLYSE PERRY! ❤️
4-0-15-6 against Mumbai Indians in must win match for RCB.
The GOAT for a reason 🐐 #CricketTwitter #WPL2024 #MIvRCB pic.twitter.com/0eVfgZT49W
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) March 12, 2024
Ellyse Perry becomes the FIRST player (men/women) with a century and 6-fer in first-class, List-A and T20 career.
Highest score for Perry in
FC – 213*
ListA – 147
T20 – 103*Best figures for Perry in
FC – 6/32
ListA – 7/22
T20 – 6/15 (today)#WPL2024 pic.twitter.com/C9SFcA9akH— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) March 12, 2024