Coming into Royal Challengers Bangalore’s final group game of WPL 2024, Ellyse Perry had not picked up a single wicket in six outings. She more than made up for that by returning the best-ever figures in the WPL, and propelling RCB into the playoffs. It was a sensational display of swing bowling from Perry, who finished with 6 for 15 to help bowl Mumbai Indians out for a mere 113.

And Perry wasn’t done yet. With RCB losing their top three quickly, she then carried the chase with an unbeaten 38-ball 40. She had an ally in Richa Ghosh, who remained not out on 36 off 28 as RCB sealed a seven-wicket win in Delhi.

RCB’s win snuffed out Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz’s playoff hopes.

Mandhana’s decision at the toss bears fruit

It takes a brave captain to go against the tide, especially in a game that could make or break the team’s season. Six of the seven games in the Delhi-leg of the WPL before today had been won by the sides batting first. Even the one that Mumbai won chasing required a Harmanpreet Kaur special. Despite that, Mandhana elected to field, citing the match being played on a fresh surface as the reason. And her decision paid off.

With Yastika Bhatia out due to illness, Mumbai had a new opening pair in S Sajana and Hayley Matthews. The duo added 43 for the opening wicket, but once Matthews fell, it was all one-way traffic.

Perry magic leaves Mumbai dumbfounded

It started with a catch, it ended with the poles being hit four times – interspersed by two lbws – as Perry ripped through Mumbai in a sensational display of swing and seam bowling. She was involved in each of the first seven Mumbai wickets to fall and by the time she was done, RCB had one foot in the playoffs.

Sophie Devine struck first removing Matthews with Perry taking an excellent catch diving forward at deep midwicket. Perry started well with the ball conceding only a run in her first over, but Mumbai were still motoring along at close to eight runs an over.

From no wickets off her first nine balls, she picked up six off her next 15 as Mumbai collapsed from 61 for 1 in 8.3 overs to 82 for 7 in 13.

It was the good length ball that brought about Mumbai’s undoing. Perry first got through Sajana’s defences with a sharp in-ducker that clattered into her off stump. The very next ball, Perry went away from Harmanpreet who drove at it half-heartedly only to manage a thick inside-edge back onto her stumps.

The first ball of her next over, Perry got another good length ball to deviate sharply back into Amelia Kerr, who was rapped on the pads and a loud appeal ensued. RCB challenged the on-field umpire’s not-out decision and were proven right. Amanjot Kaur pulled Perry first ball but was sent back immediately after with another booming inswinger that cut her in half.

Perry picked her fifth wicket by cleaning up Pooja Vastrakar and then claimed the WPL record for the best figures off the final ball of her spell trapping Nat-Sciver Brunt in front. In all, Perry bowled 18 dot balls in her four-over spell, leaving Mumbai clueless.

Priyanka Bala, on WPL debut, remained unbeaten on 19 to take Mumbai past the 100-mark.

Perry, Ghosh take RCB into the playoffs

If six wickets weren’t enough, Perry also starred with the bat after RCB lost their top three quickly. Sophie Molineux, opening the batting for the second game running, had a life on 4 when Sciver-Brunt spilt a simple catch at extra cover. She couldn’t last long though with Matthews getting her stumped for 9. Sciver-Brunt then saw the back of Mandhana the next over before Shabnam Ismail beat Devine for pace.

At 39 for 3 after 6.1 overs there would have been some nerves in the RCB camp. Perry settled some of them by hitting Saika Ishaque for a four and six. Ghosh then had a big reprieve when Sciver-Brunt again shelled a simple catch at midwicket off Ismail. And unlike Molineux, Ghosh made Mumbai pay.

Both batters paced their innings well and once they got a hang of the surface, they opened up their shoulders. It was fitting that Perry got RCB over the line lofting Vastrakar over mid-on to seal the deal in 15 overs.