Ellyse Perry ends WPL run with Royal Challengers Bengaluru on a high in all-Aussie partnership

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)'s journey to defend their Women's Premier League (WPL) title has ended, but they bid farewell to the 2025 competition with a stunning victory. This win ended their five-game losing streak and also marked the first home defeat for the Mumbai Indians. This victory provided a positive note to end their campaign.

RCB displayed powerful offensive firepower in the final stages of the match, with Ellyse Perry (49 not out from 38 balls) and Georgia Wareham (31 not out from 10 balls) combining for 46 runs in the last 14 balls. Ultimately, RCB finished with a total of 3-199 in their last group stage match, setting a challenging target. This late surge significantly boosted their final score.

The Mumbai Indians could have directly qualified for the final with this victory, but they failed to find their rhythm throughout the match. When Perry caught a ball off her own bowling to dismiss Nat Sciver-Brunt (69 from 35 balls), the game was effectively over. The Mumbai Indians eventually finished the match with a total of 9-188, losing by 11 runs, falling short of expectations. This defeat meant they missed out on an automatic final spot.

As the only team without an Australian player, the Mumbai Indians will face the Gujarat Giants, who boast Australian players such as Beth Mooney, Ash Gardner, and Phoebe Litchfield, in Thursday's eliminator at Brabourne Stadium. The winner will face the Delhi Capitals, who have Australian players like Meg Lanning, Jess Jonassen, and Annabel Sutherland, in Saturday's final. This sets up an exciting clash for a place in the final showdown.

RCB's four Australian players are heading home, but they can leave with some consolation. In addition to Perry and Wareham's outstanding performances, Heather Graham also took her first WPL wicket, and Kim Garth contributed two wickets (2-33). RCB, seemingly with nothing to lose, appeared more relaxed, especially captain Smriti Mandhana. After scoring only 54 runs in five innings during the previous five-game losing streak, the Mumbai-born left-handed batter hit 53 from 37 balls before being dismissed, helping RCB reach 1-100 before her dismissal. This contributed to a more confident and aggressive approach.

After Richa Ghosh hit 36 from 22 balls, Perry and Wareham combined for a devastating finish, with several missed catches along the way. Perry finished the WPL group stage with 372 runs, averaging an impressive 93, the second-highest run-scorer behind Sciver-Brunt (416 runs). Because Sneh Rana took 3-26, the Mumbai Indians never reached the required run rate, which exceeded two runs per ball from the middle of the match. The strong bowling performance from RCB kept Mumbai Indians under pressure.

They did briefly threaten a stunning victory in the final over. Needing 28 runs to win, Sajeevan Sajana hit Perry for two sixes after two wide balls, but she remained calm, dismissed the batter, and took her second wicket, finishing with 2-53 in four overs, albeit expensively. Despite the late surge, RCB managed to hold their nerve and secure the victory. This win provided a positive end to their campaign, showcasing their resilience and determination.