Australia's Georgia Voll enters WPL record books after falling short of historic century

Australian player Georgia Voll narrowly missed becoming the first batter to score a century in the Women's Premier League (WPL) in India, falling just one run short. Representing the Uttar Pradesh Warriorz in the match held in Lucknow, Voll finished the game with an unbeaten 99, ultimately securing a 12-run victory against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Voll's innings, spanning 56 balls, included 17 fours and one six, and she forged a 77-run opening partnership with fellow Australian Grace Harris (39). Her performance propelled the Uttar Pradesh Warriorz to a score of 5-225 in 20 overs, also equalling the highest individual score in the WPL's short history, marking a significant achievement.

The Royal Challengers Bangalore team, featuring Australians Ellyse Perry, Georgia Wareham, and Kim Garth, were bowled out in the 20th over, finishing with a score of 213. Voll also demonstrated her all-round capabilities by taking two catches and calmly bowling the final over, dismissing Renuka Singh for 1 run off just three balls, showcasing her composure under pressure.

When asked if she felt she had missed a golden opportunity to score a historic century, Voll admitted, "I think so, yeah." At 98, Voll only managed a single off the final ball, a googly from England's Charlie Dean. "I should have known she was going to bowl that (a yorker)," Voll remarked, expressing a hint of self-reproach.

Voll's outstanding performance is all the more remarkable considering she was only called up to the WPL late last month as a replacement for Sri Lankan player Chamari Athapaththu. Perry had a strong start for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, hitting 28 off her first 14 balls, eventually becoming the season's highest run-scorer with 323 runs. However, her innings was ultimately ended by Anjali Sarvani.

The match result means the Royal Challengers Bangalore are eliminated from contention for the WPL title, while the Uttar Pradesh Warriorz had already missed out on the playoffs. Meg Lanning's Delhi Capitals and Ash Gardner's Gujarat Giants will join the Mumbai Indians in the playoffs next week, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the tournament.