Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India]: After Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated the Mumbai Indians by 11 runs on Tuesday at the Brabourne Stadium, the Delhi Capitals advanced straight to the current Women’s Premier League final.

The crowd was enthralled by a high-scoring match as RCB successfully defended 199 and left MI reeling. DC benefited from RCB’s win because they maintained their position at the top and advanced straight to the final for the third time in as many seasons.

MI, who maintained their second-place standing, will play the Gujarat Giants in the playoffs on Thursday at the same location in an attempt to make it to the finals for the second time.

Despite MI’s star-studded hitting unit’s firepower, the 200-run chase was always going to be difficult. Amelia Kerr and Hayley Matthews put 27 runs on the board in 3.2 overs as the MI openers attempted to get off to a quick start.

MI’s scoring pace was reduced by RCB captain Smriti Mandhana’s introduction of off-spinner Sneh Rana. When Rana eliminated the dangerous Matthews on 19(16), the risk immediately paid off.

After counterattacking, Nat Sciver-Brunt scored two straight boundaries. Rana easily got Kerr (9) in her spin trap as MI seemed to threaten once again.

While wickets kept falling at the other end, Brunt persisted in carrying the attack on her shoulders. In the 14th over of the current season, she reached her fourth fifty by using her feet and throwing a backfoot punch.

After falling for a slower one from Ellyse Perry and cushioning the ball back to the bowler’s hand, her on-field antics came to a stop. After only 35 deliveries, she came back with a daring 69.

Rana’s cheap removal of Yastika Bhatia (4) added to MI’s problems. As the asking rate kept rising to all-time highs, the game started moving away from MI. Ultimately, RCB broke its losing run and had a successful season finale.

Sabbhineni Meghana and Mandhana gave the game an electric start by scoring 41 runs for the first wicket in the 3.3 overs after MI won the toss and sent RCB to bat earlier in the game. Mandhana continued her torrid adventure with Ellyse Perry at the other end, as Meghana fell on the 26th.

Shortly after reaching her fifty, the RCB captain was cut. Richa Ghosh (36) and Georgia Wareham (31*) joined Perry in her assault, both of whom generously contributed to raise RCB’s total to 199/3.