Batting on 61 off 29, in the midst of the sixteenth over, Richa Ghosh took rely of the fielding modifications, then took a few deep breaths, calming herself down. Subsequent ball, as Chinelle Henry strayed down the leg aspect, Ghosh simply casually flicked the ball, and deposited it over the fence. RCB’s hopes of staying alive trusted her succesful shoulders carrying the load of a mega run-chase.
Subsequent over, nevertheless, when Deepti Sharma bowled one in her arc, her eyes lit up and he or she went for an additional large heave over midwicket. However, this time, Henry was ready. In a event the place their catching was forgettable for probably the most half, the West Indies allrounder grabbed the ball cleanly and fell on her again, arms unfold throughout in pleasure – and reduction. Although Sneh Rana smashed the primary 5 balls she confronted for 2 fours and three sixes in a surprising cameo to offer her aspect hope, RCB’s event successfully ended when Ghosh’s knock got here to an finish. UP Warriorz scored the best Girls’s Premier League whole after being requested to bat first, posting 225/5 using on Georgia Voll’s 99*. RCB gave it chase however fell quick by 12 runs.
UPW have been already out of the playoffs race, and this end result completed off RCB’s probabilities too. Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, and Gujarat Giants are confirmed to play within the knockouts, with the highest spot – a direct entry to the ultimate – nonetheless up for grabs for the three groups.
RCB’s evening began off properly as Smriti Mandhana lastly gained a toss after dropping all 4 in Bengaluru (and ended up dropping all these matches as properly). However the smile she had on the toss vanished slightly shortly as UPW have been off to a flying begin. Grace Harris and Georgia Voll discovered boundaries with an alarming frequency. If the primary half of the powerplay was about Grace’s energy, Voll quickly stepped on the fuel too. With a complete of 11 fours and a couple of sixes within the powerplay, UPW registered the perfect rating of the season on the finish of six overs (at that time) with 67/0.
UPW’s drawback via the season, nevertheless, has been changing these begins into a considerable whole. However of their closing match, they discovered the appropriate rhythm of their batting. After Harris’ run out, Kiran Navgire performed her greatest innings of the event too, displaying her big-hitting skills with back-to-back sixes off Georgia Wareham. Not lengthy after, got here a 22-run over from Renuka Singh Thakur as Navgire showcased some straightforward energy to smash a pair extra sixes in her 16-ball 46.
Voll’s unimaginable ball-striking just isn’t new for Indian followers, as she scored a century in solely her second ODI for Australia. And it appeared she was on her technique to scoring the primary century of the WPL however the 90s curse struck once more. Simply in Lucknow this previous week, Beth Mooney (96* for Gujarat Giants) and Meg Lanning (92 for Delhi Capitals) got here shut however Voll went even nearer. However after discovering the boundary with ease for almost all of her innings, she couldn’t do sufficient within the final couple of overs, and was left stranded on 99. What mattered, nevertheless, was the rating UPW posted that was out of RCB’s attain.
For the defending champions, it introduced the curtains down (successfully, as they nonetheless have one match to go) on a poor season. Their issues began even earlier than a ball was bowled, as the highest three wicket-takers of WPL 2024 in Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana and Sophie Molineux have been all dominated out. They began off alright regardless of these blows, successful two matches in Vadodara. However the season totally derailed as soon as their dwelling video games started.
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“We began believing it was going to be season, however within the final 5 matches, we couldn’t meet our personal expectations,” a dejected Mandhana stated later. “We performed properly in patches however misplaced key moments, dropping matches we may have gained. There’s undoubtedly loads to take again from the season. Dropping the highest three wicket-takers of final season was important, particularly after the public sale.”
Her personal type with the bat didn’t assist RCB both. After the enjoyment of 2024, it turned out to be a forgettable marketing campaign. On UPW’s evening in Lucknow, RCB can be left feeling it’s the hope that kills.
