The final league match of the TATA Women’s Premier League 2025 delivered another high-scoring spectacle as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured an 11-run victory over Mumbai Indians (MI) in Match 20. This win ensured Delhi Capitals (DC) finished at the top of the points table, advancing directly to the final. Meanwhile, MI and Gujarat Giants (GG) moved into the Eliminator.

Mandhana and Perry Power RCB to 199

RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana led from the front with a crucial half-century, while Ellyse Perry’s unbeaten 49 helped set a formidable target of 200. MI put up a strong fight, with Orange Cap holder Natalie Sciver-Brunt smashing a remarkable 69 off 35 balls. Sajeevan Sajana’s late fireworks nearly turned the game, but RCB held their ground. Sneh Rana's brilliant 3-26 in four overs, on a night filled with runs, earned her the Player-of-the-Match award.

RCB Starts Strong with the Bat

Continuing the tournament's trend, MI skipper Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and opted to field first. RCB openers Smriti Mandhana and S. Meghana capitalized on the opportunity, racing to 41 runs within the first 3.3 overs. Meghana played a fiery knock of 26 off just 13 balls, which included four boundaries and a six before Hayley Matthews broke the stand. Mandhana, who had only one 50+ score in the tournament before this match, looked determined to finish on a high. She struck her fourth TATA WPL fifty with a confident shot down the ground, smashing five boundaries and three sixes. However, her innings came to an end when Shabnim Ismail caught her at long-off in an Amelia Kerr over where MI had earlier missed two chances.

Middle-Order Acceleration

At 101/2 in 12 overs, Richa Ghosh stepped in after her explosive 69 in the previous game. MI managed to keep both Ghosh and the in-form Perry quiet, restricting RCB to 143/2 in 16 overs. But soon, the scoring picked up pace. Ghosh struck two boundaries and a six off Ismail, only for Matthews to break the partnership again, dismissing her for 36 off 22 balls. Perry then joined forces with Georgia Wareham, and the duo unleashed an attacking finish. RCB hammered 39 runs in the last two overs, including seven boundaries and a massive six by Wareham on the final ball of the innings. The innings concluded at a formidable 199/3, with Perry unbeaten on 49 and Wareham contributing a blistering 31* off just 10 balls.

Mumbai’s Chase and Sciver-Brunt’s Heroics

MI had a shaky start as Matthews, their star all-rounder, couldn’t replicate her bowling success with the bat. Sneh Rana dismissed both Matthews (19 off 16) and Kerr (9 off 10) in quick succession, leaving MI at 45/2 at the end of the powerplay. Sciver-Brunt, however, took control of the chase. She played a blistering knock, reclaiming the Orange Cap while scoring a 35-ball 69. MI suffered a setback when Harmanpreet Kaur departed just after the halfway mark, caught smartly by Richa Ghosh off Kim Garth’s bowling. With MI needing 108 runs off the final eight overs, Sciver-Brunt launched an aggressive attack, smashing boundaries consistently. She crossed the 400-run milestone for the season and looked set to take MI over the line. But just when the game seemed to be slipping away from RCB, Perry made a stunning high catch off her own bowling to dismiss Sciver-Brunt. With her departure, MI was left needing 71 runs from the last five overs.

Late Drama and RCB’s Victory

Despite losing their key batter, MI fought till the end. Contributions from Sanskriti Gupta and Amanjot Kaur kept them in the hunt. Sajana’s late cameo of 23 off 12 balls brought MI close, reducing the equation to 12 runs needed from the final three balls. However, Perry held her nerve in the last over. She bowled three consecutive dot balls, including the wicket of Sajana, sealing RCB’s win and ending their campaign on a high after a streak of five losses.

What’s Next?

Mumbai Indians will face Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator on Thursday, March 13. The winner of that match will take on Delhi Capitals in the final on March 15.

Brief Scorecard

RCB may be out of the title race, but they ended their campaign on a winning note, making a significant impact on the WPL 2025 playoff standings. Stay tuned with JUSZNEWS for regular updates!