WPL: RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana explains Asha Sobhana bowling last over in Eliminator vs Mumbai Indians

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s uncapped India cricketer Asha Sobhana came up with a spirited display to defend 12 runs off the final over of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 Eliminator against Mumbai Indians Friday. Bowling two overs in the match, Sobhana picked up one wicket and conceded 13 runs to guide her side to the final of the WPL 2024 season. Following the contest, Bangalore skipper Smriti Mandhana explained the reason behind the move to deploy Sobhana to bowl the final over.

“We did not want to give a lot of pace to Amelia Kerr. Because she is decent against pace and with 12 runs to defend it is hard for a pacer if you cannot nail your yorker. So, I went to Asha and [asked] will you bowl the last over. The way she responded… I think a captain always looks for that sort of confidence in bowlers. I was like she is the girl, because she was like yes I will bowl the last over, give me the ball,” Mandhana said in a video shared by the official handle of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

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“Will you bowl the last over? Of course I can. Hear from Captain Smriti Mandhana and Asha Shobhana on the final-over call that successfully paid off for Royal Challengers Bangalore,” read the post shared by WPL.

Sobhana, on the other hand, revealed how exactly she felt when she was handed the responsibility to bowl the final over of the Eliminator against Mumbai Indians.

“At the same time, Smriti came to me around the 18th over and asked if I could bowl the 20th over. I said, of course I can. I will defend the target. You don’t worry about it, I said,” Sobhana recalled.

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Batting first, Royal Challengers Bangalore posted 135 runs losing six wickets in 20 overs. Ellyse Perry emerged as the highest scorer for Royal Challengers Bangalore producing a terrific half-century. Perry played a fine knock of 66 off 50 balls.

Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Saika Ishaque picked up two wickets each for Mumbai Indians. During the run chase, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur looked in fine form but she failed to earn a win for Mumbai Indians. Kaur was dismissed for 33.

Sobhana, eventually, emerged as Royal Challengers Bangalore’s rescuer as she bowled a boundary-less 20th over to earn a thrilling five-run win for her side. Royal Challengers Bangalore will next face Delhi Capitals in the WPL 2024 final scheduled to be played on Sunday.