WPL 2024: Weekly Review – Finals Recap – Points Table, Top Run-Getters And Wicket-Takers

WPL 2024: The Women’s Premier League reached its climax with a riveting finale, as Royal Challengers Bangalore emerged victorious, clinching their maiden title in a dazzling display of skill and determination.

The past week’s action in the league showcased a series of enthralling encounters, culminating in the Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, and the triumphant Royal Challengers Bangalore securing their spots in the Playoffs.

As the competition intensified, fans were treated to breathtaking performances and unexpected outcomes, underscoring the competitive spirit and talent on display in the WPL. Let’s delve deeper into the highlights and drama of this week’s fixtures, as the race for supremacy in women’s cricket reaches fever pitch.

Here’s how the matches progressed in WPL 2024

Match 16: Gujarat Giants vs Mumbai Indians- Mumbai Indians Won 7 Wickets

Harmanpreet Kaur does it again! What a splendid knock of 95 to take the Mumbai Indians to a splendid win versus the Gujarat Giants in Match 16 of the Women’s Premier League. On that note, welcome to the match review of MI vs GG.

Skipper Beth Mooney won the toss and opted to bat first. Mind you, GG got to a competitive total of 190 with knocks of brilliance courtesy Beth Mooney who got to 66 but more importantly, it was Dayalan Hemalatha who stole the show in the first innings with a spectacular 74.

In the run-chase for MI, it was Yastika Bhatia who laid the platform with a wily 49 off 36 but it was the skipper who wrapped up the proceedings in style with an unbelievable 95 off 48 partnering Amelia Kerr to ensure MI won the match.

MI consolidated their position with 10 points on the table and jumped to the #1 position and GG ran themselves out of contention for a playoff finish.

Match 17: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Capitals- Delhi Capitals Won by 1 Run

In what was another nail-biter witnessed in this WPL, Delhi Capitals scripted a remarkable 1-run win versus Royal Challengers Bangalore in Match 17 of the WPL.

DC won the toss and opted to bat first. Scoring a competitive 180/5 on the board, it was the pocket dynamite Jemimah Rodrigues who scored a fluent 58 coupled with contributions of 48 and 29 from Alice Capsey and Meg Lanning respectively.

For RCB, starring with the ball was Shreyanka Patil who on her comeback scalped four prized wickets. In the subsequent run-chase that saw a new duo in Smriti Mandhana and Sophie Molineux open but saw the skipper fall cheaply.

However, we saw knocks of 49 from Ellyse Perry but with the scoreboard pressure mounting and wickets falling, RCB needed some impetus and providing exactly that was Richa Ghosh who in her fighting knock of 51 off 29 took RCB almost across the line. Alas, it was a run out that cost RCB the game and ensured DC got to a win.

Match 18: UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants- Gujarat Giants Won by 9 Runs

Gujarat Giants registered a close nine-run win versus UP Warriorz in Match 18 of the Women’s Premier League at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. GG won the toss and opted to bat first.

Scoring a total of 152/8 on the board, it was the knock from Beth Mooney who scored a valiant 74. For UPW, Sophie Ecclestone once again starred with the ball scalping a three-fer. The subsequent run-chase saw a collapse for starters as the likes of Alyssa Healy, Kiran Navgire, Chamari Athapaththu, Grace Harris and Shweta Sehrawat were all dismissed cheaply.

However, it was Deepti Sharma’s 88 off 60 and Poonam Khemnar’s run-a-ball 36 that gave them a fighting chance to get closer to the total, yet UP Warriorz fell short by 9 runs.

For GG, it was the 16-year-old Shabnam Shakil who was brilliant taking three crucial wickets. This outcome sees UPW still with six points and they would hope for RCB to lose their match by a massive margin with a hit to their NRR to qualify, with GG having no chance of making it through, ending their campaign with just two wins.

ALSO READ: WPL 2024: Bowlers, Ellyse Perry Star As RCB Win The Maiden WPL Title Beating Delhi Capitals

Match 19: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians- Royal Challengers Bangalore Won by 7 Wickets

Royal Challengers Bangalore finally registered their first win against Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League. In Match 19 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, RCB edged out MI by seven wickets and comprehensively outplayed their opposition.

RCB won the toss and opted to bowl first. Restricting MI to a below-par total of 113, it was the magical spell of Ellyse Perry that came to the party that quite literally broke the back of MI. She scalped six crucial wickets to leave them reeling under pressure.

The subsequent run-chase saw RCB chase down the total in 15 overs with Perry once again scoring an unbeaten 40 and Richa Ghosh’s 36 taking RCB comfortably across the line. This win ensured RCB became the third team to make it through to the playoffs and is slated to square off against Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator.

Match 20: Delhi Capitals versus Gujarat Giants- Delhi Capitals Won by 7 Wickets

Delhi Capitals ended their group stage games on a high, registering a comfortable seven-wicket win in Match 20 of the Women’s Premier League at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. GG won the toss and opted to bat first.

Owing to a batting collapse, they got to a lowly 126/9 on the board as the dismissal of key batters did not help much. However, the assured partnership of Bharti Fulmali and Kathyrn Bryce who scored knocks of 42 and 28 respectively ensured they got to a reasonable total.

For DC, the trio of Minu Mani, Marizanne Kapp and Shikha Pandey were all amongst the wickets. The run-chase saw the early departure of Meg Lanning but a brilliant 71 of Shafali Verma and Jemimah’s 38 ensured the match was sealed in the 14th over. This win meant DC ended their campaign at the top of the table, having directly qualified for the finals. Now, the second-placed MI take on third-placed RCB and the winner will square off against DC.

WPL 2024- Points Table

Here’s what the points table looked like after the league stages of the Women’s Premier League.

Delhi Capitals qualified for the finals directly on account of the six wins registered while Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore placed at number 2 and 3 on the table squared off in an Eliminator match.

The Eliminator: Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore- Royal Challengers Bangalore Won by 5 Runs

Royal Challengers Bangalore has made it to the Finals, what a win and what a match! In the Eliminator of the WPL, RCB edged out MI by 5 runs to make it to the finals.

RCB won the toss and opted to bat first. Off to a fiery start, RCB lost steam losing their openers and middle order early. However, it was the knock of Ellyse Perry that once again came to RCB’s rescue and Georgia Wareham’s 18 that helped RCB post 135 on the board.

While one would have assumed MI would chase down the total with ease but that was not the case as they slipped to a five-run defeat. None of the batters could establish their presence at the crease and consistent loss of wickets meant MI could not hold their ground. For RCB, it was a collective bowling performance that saw them defend a low total with bursts of excellence from Asha Sobhana and Shreyanka Patil specifically.

The Final: Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore- Royal Challengers Bangalore Won by 8 Wickets

Royal Challengers Bangalore scripted history. They pulled off a remarkable seven-wicket win versus Delhi Capitals in the Finals of the Women’s Premier League on 17th March. DC won the toss and opted to bat first.

Off to an electric start, DC had Shafali Verma attack from the get-go but her dismissal for 44 opened the floodgates, as DC lost Jemimah Rodrigues and Alice Capsey in the same over as Sophie Molineux delivered a massive breakthrough titling the match entirely in RCB’s favour.

Even as Meg Lanning and Marizanne Kapp tried to rebuild the innings, their dismissals proved to be costly as RCB made mincemeat of the rest of the batting and DC huffed and puffed to a total of 113. For RCB, it was Sophie Molineux with three wickets, Shreyanka Patil with four wickets and Asha Sobhana who delivered with wickets.

In a pulsating run-chase– RCB took time to compose the run-chase but calculated knocks of Smriti Mandhana, Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry and Richa Ghosh took RCB across the line in 19.3 overs. The dugout broke into celebrations and this win changed RCB’s fortunes overnight to winners of the second edition of the Women’s Premier League. This draws curtains on our match reviews of the WPL.

An incredible conclusion to an epic tournament! 🎉

With fans showing their love for the new queens of #CricketKaQueendom, congratulations to the new champions of #TATAWPL Season 2, @RCBTweets 🏏 👑#DCvRCB | #Final | @JayShah pic.twitter.com/XlkUhiGU5f

— Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) March 18, 2024

WPL 2024 – Top Run-Getters

Ellyse Perry secured the top position with 347 runs after what was a successful campaign for RCB.

She is closely followed by Meg Lanning (331 runs), Shafali Verma (309 runs), Smriti Mandhana (300 runs) and Deepti Sharma (295 runs).

WPL 2024- Top Wicket Takers

Shreyanka Patil turned her fortunes for the better, in the Delhi leg of the WPL with a remarkable 13 wickets, followed by Asha Sobhana and Sophie Molineux with 12 wickets apiece. Occupying positions 4 and 5 are Marizanne Kapp and Sophie Ecclestone with 11 wickets apiece.

 

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