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THE TIMES OF INDIA | Mar 15, 2024, 18:26:13 IST
Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Live Score Updates: It's time to enter the business end of the second edition of the Women's Premier League (WPL). The league stage is over and only two knockout matches remain - the Eliminator and final. While Delhi Capitals have made it to the decider by finishing on top of the table in the league phase, the next two - Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore - will fight it out in the Eliminator for a spot in the final. This WPL both teams have won a match each against one another. MI emerged victorious by 7 wickets the first time at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, while RCB returned the favour by the same margin at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. It's quite clear the two teams are matched evenly going into the Eliminator. A lot, therefore, will depend on the conditions and how the players from both sides counter them. Going by the numbers, Bengaluru clearly was the more high-scoring venue, whereas Delhi has been mixed. Some matches have favoured the bowlers due to the sluggish nature of the pitch, while a few have seen batters on the rampage. The reason is the use of five different pitches in the course of the Delhi leg of the WPL. For the Eliminator, which one is put into use remains to be seen. MI's campaign has seen their talismanic captain Harmanpreet Kaur lead from the front. Harmanpreet has been the team's top run-getter with 235 runs in 6 innings at an average of 58.75 and a strike-rate of 146.87. On the bowling front, Shabnim Ismail has bowled some thunderbolts during the tournament. The South African recorded the fastest delivery (132.1 kph) bowled ever in women's cricket during a game against Delhi Capitals. MI are expecting the return of opener Yastika Bhatia, who was a missing factor in the final league game loss to RCB. Other key players for the team are leg-spinning New Zealand allrounder Amelia Kerr and English allrounder Nat Sciver-Brunt. RCB, on the other hand, have had their two big guns Smriti Mandhana and Ellyse Perry firing on all cylinders. Smriti has amassed 259 runs in 8 innings (strike rate 145.5), while Perry has 246 runs in 7 innings (strike rate 130.15) to her name. Perry has also starred with the ball, returning with the best-ever figures (6/15) in WPL during RCB's win over MI. Just like their men's team, RCB's bowling department lacks firepower. Wicketkeeper-bat Richa Ghosh and New Zealand allrounder Sophie Devine's performance will also be pivotal for RCB's chances.
MI vs RCB WPL Live Score: MI enjoy a 3-1 head to head lead against RCB
MI's Amelia Kerr has bagged the Player of the Match in two of those three wins.
MI vs RCB WPL Live Score: Eyes on RCB bowlers
RCB's bowling unit comprising Sophie Devine, Sophie Molineux, Asha Sobhana, Shreyanka Patil and Perry have also done reasonably well but will have to be razor sharp against MI. Harmanpreet bailed her side out with a whirlwind 95 not out against Gujarat Giants and the skipper will be key with the bat today.
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MI vs RCB WPL Live Score: Rollercoaster ride for RCB this season
RCB have improved vastly from last year but Smriti Mandhana and Co. have qualified for their maiden knockouts on the back of an inconsistent run. They have won four games and lost four. The positives for RCB include Mandhana returning to form, and the big-hitting Richa Ghosh and all-rounder Ellyse Perry being among runs.
I have seen consistency. If we make an exception for the last match, all the other games that we won. Yes. the performance was not good in the last match, but that's okay. We are prepared for the next game. And this happened before the Eliminators so we are taking this as a good sign. Don't you think that history is repeating. We went through this last year as well, just before the Eliminators there were little ups and downs, but we bounced back in the Eliminator and played one-sided against them. So, we are taking this as a 'good luck' sign hoping that we are going to repeat the same history this year with the same results as last year.
MI batting coach Devika Palshikaar
MI vs RCB WPL Live Score: RCB 1 - 0 MI
Mumbai head to the match on the back of five wins and three losses including the seven-wicket loss RCB inflicted on them earlier this week. However, the holders are counting it as a rare off day.
MI vs RCB WPL Live Score: Now or never for MI, RCB
Defending champions Mumbai Indians will look to their captain Harmanpreet Kaur for inspiration when they take on a plucky Royal Challengers Bangalore in the knockout clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Eliminator chash between Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore in New Delhi.
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