Phenomenal Perry delivers in style as RCB makes the grade
Her sensational spell of 40156 skittles out Harmanpreet’s Mumbai Indians for 113 in a mustwin game for the Bengaluru side; the Australian allrounder’s unbeaten 40 then helps the team chase down the modest target with five overs to spare
Perform or perish. The brief was simple for Royal Challengers Bangalore in a mustwin league encounter against Mumbai Indians. The Arun Jaitley Stadium was a cauldron of chants and whistles in RCB’s favour, ironically adding to the ascending tension of it all. The stage was set for a player to step up and take the team through and Ellyse Perry raised her hand.
With a remarkable sixfor and a cautious 38ball 40, Perry helped RCB to a massive sevenwicket win over MI here on Tuesday, sealing the third playoff spot in its favour.
Smriti Mandhana opted to chase, banking on the team’s batting arsenal to see it through.
MI made it too easy for RCB putting in a dismal performance with the bat, all out for just 113 with an over left in the innings. After resting Yastika Bhatia for this game, MI opened with Hayley Matthews and S. Sajana who stitched a 43run stand. Perry dismissed Sajana and Harmanpreet Kaur off successive deliveries in the ninth over.
She then removed Amanjot Kaur in the 11th over and then made short work of Pooja Vastrakar and Nat SciverBrunt, with both falling in the span of three deliveries in the 13th over. A usually wasteful RCB conceded only three extras. Perry’s imperious spell included 18 dot balls, which ultimately hurt MI’s cause.
Chasing 114, RCB lost its openers early. Shabnim Ismail dismissed Sophie Devine, leaving Perry and Richa Ghosh to carry the team through and do so they did with a 76run unbroken stand. It was fitting that Perry hit the winning runs, a four over midoff, knocking Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz out of the playoffs race.
MUMBAI INDIANS
FALL OF WICKETS
The MI batters had no answers to Perry’s imperious bowling.
Hayley Matthews c Perry b Devine 26 (23b, 2x4, 2x6), S. Sajana b Perry 30 (21b, 5x4, 1x6), Nat SciverBrunt lbw b Perry 10 (15b, 1x4), Harmanpreet Kaur b Perry 0 (1b), Amelia Kerr lbw b Perry 2 (5b), Amanjot Kaur b Perry 4 (2b, 1x4), Pooja Vastrakar b Perry 6 (10b, 1x4), Humaira Kazi c Devine b Asha 4 (7b), Priyanka Bala (not out) 19 (18b, 2x4), Shabnim
Ismail st. Richa b Shreyanka 8 (8b, 1x4), Saika Ishaque lbw b Molineux 1 (4b); Extras (lb3): 3; Total (in 19 overs): 113.
143 (Matthews, 5.6 overs), 265 (Sajana, 8.4), 365 (Harmanpreet, 8.5), 469 (Kerr, 10.1), 573 (Amanjot, 10.3), 681 (Pooja, 12.3), 782 (SciverBrunt, 12.6), 892 (Humaira, 15.2), 9106 (Ismail, 17.5).
RCB BOWLING
Renuka 20160, Molineux 40261, Shradda 1090, Devine 30211, Perry 40156,
Wareham 2080, Asha 20121, Shreyanka 1031.
ROYAL CHALLENGERS Smriti Mandhana c Priyanka b SciverBrunt 11 (13b, 2x4), Sophie Molineux st. Priyanka b Matthews 9 (9b, 2x4), Ellyse Perry (not out) 40 (38b, 5x4, 1x6), Sophie Devine b Ismail 4 (2b, 1x4), Richa Ghosh (not out) 36 (28b, 4x4, 2x6); Extras (b4, w11): 15; Total (for three wkts. in 15 overs): 115.
FALL OF WICKETS
122 (Molineux, 3.2), 225 (Smriti, 4.5), 339 (Devine, 6.1).
MUMBAI INDIANS BOWLING Ismail 40191, Matthews 20111, SciverBrunt 20181, Saika 20240, Pooja 30260, Kerr 20130.
Toss: RCB. Player-of-the-Match: Perry. RCB won by seven wickets with five overs to spare.
Wednesday’s match: Delhi Capitals vs. Gujarat Giants, 7.30 p.m.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) cleared Rishabh Pant on Tuesday to play in the upcoming Indian Premier League that starts on March 22.
Pant was seriously hurt in a car accident in December 2022 and underwent knee surgery, followed by an extensive recovery process over the last year.
The BCCI, in a statement, said, “After undergoing an extensive 14month rehab and recovery process, following a lifethreatening road mishap on December 30, 2022, near Roorkee, Uttarakhand, Rishabh Pant has now been declared fit as a wicketkeeper batter for the upcoming IPL 2024.”
The 26yearold is expected to lead his IPL side, Delhi Capitals, this year. The team will play its first match on March 23 against Punjab Kings in Mohali. Pant was also present with
his team at the player auction held in Dubai in December 2023.
The swashbuckling wicketkeeperbatter last appeared in India colours in the second Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur, in December 2022.
The IPL this year is a crucial event for players hoping to book a berth in the national squad for the ICC T20 World Cup, which will be held in the West Indies and the USA in June.
A good season for Pant in the IPL could pave the way for his return to the national side for the world event.
Shami, Prasidh out
Meanwhile, fast bowlers Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Shami have been ruled out of the IPL after undergoing surgeries last month.
Prasidh had surgery on his left proximal quadriceps tendon, while Shami underwent surgery for a right heel problem in the U.K.