The match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and UP Warriorz at Chinnaswamy Stadium was a spectacle filled with excitement, featuring two sixes in the final over, an MS Dhoni-style run out on the last ball, and the inaugural super over in the history of the Women’s Premier League. The contest was marked by a range of emotions including drama, ecstasy, agony, joy, and bewilderment. Ultimately, it was Sophie Ecclestone's exceptional performance that distinguished the two teams, as the UP Warriorz staged a remarkable comeback from near defeat on two occasions to secure victory over RCB in a thrilling encounter on Monday, February 24.

RCB batted first, setting a challenging target of 180/6, largely due to Ellyse Perry’s outstanding unbeaten innings of 90 runs off 56 deliveries. She received solid support from opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who contributed a significant 57 runs. Together, they formed a robust 94-run partnership for the second wicket, stabilizing RCB's innings after the early dismissal of captain Smriti Mandhana, who fell cheaply in the fourth over to Deepti Sharma.

While Perry remained resolute, the remainder of the RCB batting lineup struggled to provide adequate support. Richa Ghosh (8), Kanika Ahuja (5), and Georgia Wareham (8) were unable to make substantial contributions. Nevertheless, Perry’s brilliance ensured that RCB concluded their innings with a commendable total. For UP Warriorz, Tahlia McGrath (1/30), Chinelle Henry (1/34), and Deepti Sharma (1/42) were the bowlers who claimed wickets.

In response, UP Warriorz began their chase positively with Kiran Navgire (24 runs off 12 balls) and Dinesh Vrinda (14 runs) forming a 30-run partnership. However, both openers were dismissed swiftly, with Renuka Singh (2/36) taking two crucial wickets. Navgire was bowled out, and Vrinda was caught at mid-off.

The middle order struggled to gain momentum as Sneh Rana (3/27) took two vital wickets in consecutive overs, dismissing Tahlia McGrath and skipper Deepti Sharma (25 runs off 13 balls), leaving UP Warriorz in a precarious position at 93/5. Despite a commendable effort from Shweta Sehrawat, who scored 31 runs off 25 balls with four boundaries, RCB's bowl

The Sophie Ecclestone show

Sophie Ecclestone, needing 18 runs from the final over, displayed exceptional poise as she scored 33 runs off 19 balls. She launched two consecutive sixes off Renuka, followed by a boundary, which brought the target down to just 2 runs required from 2 balls. Ecclestone then took a single on the second-to-last delivery, setting the stage for Kranti Goud to complete the chase. However, Richa Ghosh's outstanding wicketkeeping resulted in Ecclestone's run out, reminiscent of MS Dhoni's iconic run out of Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman during the last ball of the match that secured a memorable victory for India at the same venue in the 2016 T20 World Cup. Although Ghosh's exceptional fielding did not lead to an RCB victory, it was sufficient to push the match into a Super Over for the first time in WPL history.

In the Super Over, Grace Harris and Chinelle Henry batted first for UP Warriorz against RCB’s Kim Garth, who had previously conceded 40 runs in her four-over spell. Entrusted with the crucial task, Garth executed an impressive over, allowing only eight runs. After yielding two runs from the first two deliveries, she dismissed Henry, caught behind by Ghosh, leaving UP Warriorz with a modest total of eight runs to defend.

RCB’s Mandhana and Ghosh then stepped up to chase the target. Sophie Ecclestone was assigned the responsibility of defending the eight-run target. The English spinner was in exceptional form, delivering a masterclass in bowling by conceding just three runs from the first five deliveries, leaving RCB needing a six to secure victory. Under significant pressure, Mandhana was unable to clear the boundary on the final ball, resulting in RCB falling short by four runs.

This exhilarating match marked a significant milestone in WPL history, with UP Warriorz claiming victory in the inaugural Super Over. The outstanding performances from both teams were evident, but it was Ecclestone's all-around excellence and composure under pressure that ultimately led to the triumph for UP Warriorz.

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