Defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) clashed in the Eliminator of Women's Premier League (WPL 2024) on Friday, March 15 in Delhi, with RCB emerging winners by 5 runs in a low-scoring thriller.

RCB won the toss and elected to bat first, but were in deep trouble after being reduced to 49/4 in the 10th over. Star all-rounder Ellyse Perry calmly weathered the storm and took the team out of troubled waters as her 50-ball 66 helped RCB to finish with a below par yet fighting total of 135/6 on the board in the knockout clash. 

Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Saika Ishaque picked two wickets each for Mumbai Indians, who must have fancied their chances at the half-way stage.

In reply, MI's top three Yastika Bhatia (19), Matthews (15), and Sciver-Brunt (23) got decent starts but couldn't carry on to get a big score which meant RCB were not totally out of the contest.

However, Harmanpreet Kaur (33) and Amelia Kerr (27*) took the team close to the finishing line with 20 needed off 3 overs, when the MI captain was dismissed going for a big hit off the last ball of the 18th over as Shreyanka Patil bowled a superb over conceding just four runs. 

Thereafter, Sophie Molineux and Asha Sobhana held their nerve as MI's lower order panicked trying to play the big shots, as they finished their innings at 130/6, to lose by five runs. Patil took 2/16, while rest of the bowling attack collectively chipped in. Ellyse Perry won her second Player-of-the-Match award in a row against Mumbai Indians.

RCB, progressed to their maiden WPL final, where they will meet Delhi Capitals on Sunday. As the Smriti Mandhana & co. sealed the final's berth, the cricketing fraternity lauded the team and wished them well for the grand finale.

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