WPL 2024: Ellyse Perry’s historic 6 for 15 sends RCB into WPL knockouts

Australia and Royal Challengers Bangalore allrounder Ellyse Perry became the first player to take a six-wicket haul at the Women’s Premier League (WPL) on Tuesday during the WPL 2024 league-stage fixture between defending champions Mumbai Indians and the Smriti Mandhana-led Royal Challengers.

Perry, 33, returned spectacular figures of 6 for 15 from her allocated four overs, which included 18 dots, to set up a decisive seven-wicket win for the Royal Challengers at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi that sent them through to the playoffs.

Perry’s record haul, accomplished in front of 22,834 spectators in attendance, vindicated Mandhana’s decision to bowl first in a match the Royal Challengers needed to win to make the knockouts without having to rely on the consequences of the remaining league match, to be played between table-leaders Delhi Capitals and the bottom-placed Gujarat Giants on Wednesday.

Perry, the fifth bowler to be introduced into the attack among the eight bowlers Mandhana deployed on the night, made balls jag back prodigiously and reaped dividends for bowling tight lines between the fourth stump and the middle stump. She began her rampage by bowling right-hand opener S Sajana and Mumbai Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur off back-to-back deliveries in the ninth over.

The right-arm medium-pacer then trapped Amelia Kerr leg before wicket and castled Amanjot Kaur in the 11th. The 13thover saw Perry rattle Pooja Vastrakar’s off stump and Nat Sciver-Brunt being adjudged lbw. And just like that the legendary cricketer had a six-for to her name.

“Sometimes it just goes right, doesn’t it, Mel?” Perry told broadcaster Mel Jones at the post-match presentation, adding “it wasn’t the easiest wicket [to bat on] tonight.”

“It was just really nice to come out and play a really great match with the girls tonight. It was a really important game for us and it’s nice to get a win over such a tough side like Mumbai. I think it’s our first one in the competition [across the two seasons, spanning four matches], so [it's] just really enjoyable.”

“She bowled very well today,” opposition captain Harmanpreet told the host broadcaster after the match. “I think none of us batted according to the way she was bowling … but we should give credit to her.”

It wasn’t with the ball alone that Perry dazzled on the night. After helping bowl out Mumbai for just 113, Perry strung an unbeaten 76-run fourth-wicket stand off 53 balls with Richa Ghosh and sealed the match with a four as she finished unbeaten on a 38-ball 40.