END OF OVER:
20 | 6 Runs 1 Wkt | MI-W: 130/6 (6 runs required, RR: 6.50)

  • Amelia Kerr27 (25b)
  • Amanjot Kaur1 (1b)
  • Asha Sobhana2-0-13-1
  • Sophie Molineux4-0-16-1

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.

19.6
1
Sobhana to Kerr, 1 run, RCB win! And the Mumbai Indians relinquish their WPL crown! What a way to make your maiden final. The Mumbai Indians do not know where to look! Very slow outside off. Kerr gave it all she had but lost her shape completely. Took the outside edge and bobbled away behind point, just for a single. All smiles in the RCB camp, MI will feel they have let one slip!

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....

19.5
1
Sobhana to AB Kaur, 1 run, short and wide outside off. Amanjot flays at it and edges it down to short third

Amanjot walks in, with MI needing 8 off 2

19.4
W
Sobhana to Vastrakar, OUT, does her all ends up! Holds the ball by a string and hangs it up on a length. Vastrakar whizzes down the track and then swings herself off her feet. Misses the ball by a mile and she then has to scramble to make it back. Ghosh is on the mark again, and RCB inch closer to the final!

P Vastrakar st †Ghosh b Sobhana 4 (7m 4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 100.00

19.3
2
Sobhana to Vastrakar, 2 runs, floated up and cramping the batter for room. On the pads and Vastrakar shanks it towards deep mid wicket. Gets back for two
19.2
1
Sobhana to Kerr, 1 run, shortens the length after seeing Kerr advance. She stands tall and hacks it to long off. Just a single

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

19.1
1
Sobhana to Vastrakar, 1 run, tossed up nicely on a length on off. Vastrakar advances and skews it off the outside edge. Trickles towards short third, allowing Kerr to get back on strike

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

END OF OVER:
19 | 4 Runs 1 Wkt | MI-W: 124/5 (12 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 6.52, RRR: 12.00)

  • Pooja Vastrakar1 (1b)
  • Amelia Kerr25 (23b)
  • Sophie Molineux4-0-16-1
  • Shreyanka Patil4-0-16-2
18.6
1
Molineux to Vastrakar, 1 run, very full on middle and leg. Vastrakar jams it out to long on and is content to keep the strike. Kerr wanted the second but Vastrakar never seemed interested

Vastrakar is the new batter in

18.5
W
Molineux to Sajana, OUT, has Sajana been stumped?! Slowed up beautifully on a length outside off. Sajana skips down, only to realise the ball is way ahead of where she expects it to be. Fishes at it and misses. Tries to get her back foot behind the crease but is too late in doing so. Ghosh made no mistake this time, and MI's chase is flagging!

S Sajana st †Ghosh b Molineux 1 (8m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 33.33

18.4
1
Molineux to Kerr, 1 run, length on off. Kerr gives herself room and cracks it off the middle towards extra cover. Mandhana dives to her right and keeps it to a single

Back to around the wicket

18.3
1
Molineux to Sajana, 1 run, straight into the stumps at the other end! Full outside off. Sajana winds up and smashes it back at the stumps at the bowler's end. Gets a single off the ricochet

Over the wicket now

18.2
0
Molineux to Sajana, no run, back of a length outside off. Sajana looks for the reverse first up and misses it altogether

Sajana on strike. Molineux stays around the wicket

18.1
1
Molineux to Kerr, 1 run, low full toss on off stump. Kerr eases it to long off and is content with the single (for now)

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

END OF OVER:
18 | 4 Runs 1 Wkt | MI-W: 120/4 (16 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 6.66, RRR: 8.00)

  • Amelia Kerr23 (21b)
  • Shreyanka Patil4-0-16-2
  • Georgia Wareham4-0-37-1
17.6
W
Patil to H Kaur, OUT, Shreyanka gets Harmanpreet! And this game swings again! Throws up the bait outside off again and Harmanpreet cannot resist the temptation to have a pop at it. Steps out but perhaps gets too close to the ball. The bat face turns on contact and she arrows it straight to Devine at long on!

H Kaur c Devine b Patil 33 (42m 30b 4x4 0x6) SR: 110.00

17.5
1
Patil to Kerr, 1 run, length on middle and off. Kerr continues staying back and punches it past the bowler
17.4
1
Patil to H Kaur, 1 run, length delivery that slides down leg. Harmanpreet gets inside the line and paddles it towards short fine leg
17.3
1
Patil to Kerr, 1 run, short and wide outside off. Kerr goes back and cuts it towards deep point
17.2
1
Patil to H Kaur, 1 run, angled in shorter and quicker on the stumps. Harmanpreet helps it behind square
17.1
0
Patil to H Kaur, no run, massive missed chance! Tossed up full just outside off. Goes above the MI skipper's eye-line and she hares down, trying to smash it into next week. Fresh-air swing but luckily for her, Ghosh does not gather

Shreyanka to bowl the 18th. 20 needed off 18

END OF OVER:
17 | 12 Runs | MI-W: 116/3 (20 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 6.82, RRR: 6.66)

  • Amelia Kerr21 (19b)
  • Harmanpreet Kaur31 (26b)
  • Georgia Wareham4-0-37-1
  • Ellyse Perry4-0-29-1
16.6
4
Wareham to Kerr, FOUR, right out of the screws! In the slot on off stump. Kerr nails the slog sweep and butchers it past deep mid wicket. If Perry cannot get there, perhaps no one can!

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

16.5
1
Wareham to H Kaur, 1 run, very full just outside off. Harmanpreet pushes it to long off
16.4
1
Wareham to Kerr, 1 run, full down leg. Kerr paddles it towards short fine leg. Harmanpreet puts on her skates and tears across to the other end
16.3
0
Wareham to Kerr, no run, slider on a back of a length on middle and off. Kerr is cramped for room and forces it out into the off side
16.2
2
Wareham to Kerr, 2 runs, floated up full and very wide outside off. Kerr drills it to long off's left and Harmanpreet has lots of time to get back for the second. Gayathri Venugopalan has called the third umpire into action because, well, why not. Harmanpreet was well past the crease and we go on!

MI Women 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st27HK MatthewsYH Bhatia
2nd23Nat Sciver-BruntYH Bhatia
3rd18H KaurNat Sciver-Brunt
4th52H KaurAC Kerr
5th3AC KerrS Sajana
6th5AC KerrP Vastrakar
7th2AC KerrAB Kaur