Discover how Ellyse Perry’s brilliance was overshadowed by MI’s late surge in the thrilling WPL 2025 match. Read more about the highlights and key moments.
Introduction
The “win the toss, field first, win the match” trend continued in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 as Mumbai Indians (MI) secured a thrilling four-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Even a superb 81 from 43 deliveries by Ellyse Perry was not sufficient for RCB’s 167 for 7, as MI hunted down the score with a single ball remaining, courtesy of late strikes by Amanjot Kaur and a serene finish by 16-year-old G Kamalini.
RCB’s Power Struggles and Perry’s Lone Stand
RCB’s reply was bright, with Smriti Mandhana coming out aggressively against the MI’s aggressive opening bowlers. Shabnim Ismail, the quickest bowler in women’s cricket, started testing Mandhana with swift bouncers at first. Although Mandhana hit two boundaries off Ismail in the initial over, the MI pacer got the last laugh when Mandhana top-edged another pull, Yastika Bhatia taking a straightforward catch.
Ellyse Perry, who arrived after Mandhana’s fall, did not take long. She hit her first ball for four and then responded with a high six off Nat Sciver-Brunt. But MI snapped back sharply with three key wickets in the powerplay—Danni Wyatt-Hodge was caught short third, Raghvi Bist was found deep midwicket, and Kanika Ahuja chopped one onto her stumps.
Ellyse Perry’s Masterclass Amid Wickets Falling
With RCB left on 62 for 4 after nine overs, Ellyse Perry changed gear. She staged a 50-run partnership with Richa Ghosh, stabilizing the innings and keeping the rate in check. Perry completed her half-century off 30 balls, combining textbook drives with muscular lofted shots. She attacked Hayley Matthews and Amelia Kerr, notching boundaries with ease.
Even after Ghosh fell for 28, Perry single-handedly propelled RCB past 160. She struck consecutive boundaries off Amanjot Kaur in the 19th over but eventually fell on the penultimate ball of the innings. Her 81 off 43 balls, featuring nine fours and three sixes, was the backbone of RCB’s innings. See also: Sophie Ecclestone’s Heroics Seal Super Over
Powerplay Blitz by Sciver-Brunt and Bhatia
Pursuing 168, MI started on purpose. Yastika Bhatia started the innings with consecutive boundaries against Renuka Singh. While Kim Garth sent Bhatia back to the pavilion for 8, Sciver-Brunt’s attacking intent made sure MI was ahead of the asking rate. She thrashed Garth for three consecutive boundaries and then added more attacking strokes against Georgia Wareham and Ekta Bisht.
Hayley Matthews contributed two boundaries off Wareham before getting caught lbw by Bisht. Even with Matthews’ departure, MI reached 66 for 2—the season’s best powerplay so far. See also: Annabel Sutherland’s All-round Performance in WPL 2025
Harmanpreet’s Anchoring Act
Sciver-Brunt was finally bowled by Garth for a swift 42 off 21 deliveries, and MI experienced some wobble when Amelia Kerr was out cheaply. Harmanpreet Kaur, however, steadied the innings. Although she began slowly, making 10 from her first 10 deliveries, she picked up the pace in the middle overs. She hit a slog-sweep over the top for six against Bisht and discovered gaps often, hitting boundaries on Renuka and Ahuja.
MI required 54 from the last six overs, and Harmanpreet’s controlled aggression reduced that equation to a handy 24 off three overs. Cricket, though, is the sport of uncertainties.
Wareham’s Double Blow Revives RCB’s Hopes
Just as MI appeared to be coasting, Georgia Wareham struck. She got rid of Harmanpreet for 50, who just nudged a cut shot to the keeper. On the very next ball, S Sajana was lbw trapped, with MI six down and RCB back in contention. The double blow, with a stingy over that netted only two runs, saw MI require 22 off the final 12 balls.
Amanjot and Kamalini Seal the Deal
Supporting act performer Amanjot Kaur stepped into the limelight. With 22 needed off 12 balls, she hit two beautiful sixes over Kanika Ahuja to reduce the tally to six from the last over. RCB’s slow over rate left them with one boundary fielder short, a flaw that would dearly cost them later.
Ekta Bisht, with the task of bowling the final over, played steady nerves. But teenager G Kamalini, also only 16, played composure personified, cutting the fifth ball to cover for four and securing a thrilling MI win by one ball with one left.
Highlights from the Game
Ellyse Perry’s fireworks: Perry was RCB’s best batsman, but all her effort came to nothing as RCB didn’t seal partnership opportunities.
MI’s Powerplay dominance: The aggressive starts from Sciver-Brunt and Bhatia set the tone, giving MI a cushion during middle overs.
Harmanpreet’s calmness under pressure: The MI skipper’s fifty was pivotal in guiding the chase, even though it ended earlier than she would’ve liked.
Amanjot’s finishing skills: Her two sixes in the penultimate over changed the game, displaying nerves of steel.
RCB’s slow overrate and misfielding: In tight games, small errors matter. RCB’s fielding lapses and over-rate penalties tilted the balance in MI’s favor.
What’s Next?
The Bengaluru leg has begun with an exciting match, and MI will be full of confidence after this victory. RCB, however, will have to regroup and sort out their middle-order problems before their next match. The trend of teams wanting to chase continues in WPL 2025, but will someone finally end the “field-first, win” jinx?