The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Delhi Capitals will lock horns in the final of the second edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi tonight. RCB have had a great season this year, earning qualification for the first time in two editions.
After a rather poor performance in their last edition of the Women’s Premier League, the Bangalore-based franchise turned things around this year and finished third in the points table at the end of the group stage of the tournament.
Having finished third in the points table, RCB had to play the Eliminator against Mumbai Indians. Taking on the defending champions in a must-win encounter, RCB got the better of Mumbai in a tense low-scoring encounter. The Girls in red and gold will be hoping to give it their best and one final push to register a victory over last year’s finalists to get the trophy home.
Ellyse Perry, the Australian all-rounder regarded as a legend of the game, has set the tournament ablaze in the last few games after having had a sedate start to the tournament. In the last few games not only has she rescued her team from tricky situations with the bat but has played a crucial role with the ball. In the last 2 games, she has accounted for 7 wickets. In this edition of the WPL, she has scored a massive 312 runs and is the current orange cap holder heading into the final. A lot will be dependent on how Ellyse Perry performs if RCB are to go on and lift the cup.
Smriti Mandhana, as the captain and opening batter of the Royal Challengers Bangalore, has had a great season so far. From scoring plenty of runs to guiding her team into their maiden final, she has done it all. This season she has scored 269 runs at an average of nearly 30 and is the second-highest run scorer for her side. The team will bank on her for a quick start in the final as well, much like she has done all season.
Sophie Molineux, the Australian all-rounder has been one of the most crucial players for her side. Her contributions have gone unnoticed on occasions but she has contributed not just with the bat or ball but is also a gun fielder. In a couple of games, she has served as Smriti Mandhana’s opening partner and played a handy knock. She has been effective with the ball and has gone on to claim 9 wickets this season. What is more impressive is that her economy is just a touch over 7 which is absolutely splendid in the shortest format of the game.