Sophie Ecclestone and a performance right out of fantasy! A batting hero at first and then, when it came to it, a double role with the ball to seal an incredible game! The UP Warriorz have come back from the brink, and they have stunned the defending champions in their den! RCB and their players are a picture of disappointment, and the Warriorz, well, they cannot believe how they have pulled this one out of the fire, and will probably need hours and hours and hours to let it sink in! Back to the ball. This was an attempted yorker that ended up being a low full toss on the pads. Mandhana swiped it away but not with enough power. Cut off easily at deep mid wicket and that was the cue for squeals of joy and pure happiness. A game the Warriorz had no business winning, is now theirs and they are now at par with RCB on the points table!
RCB Women vs UPW Women, 9th Match at Bengaluru, WPL, Feb 24 2025 - Match Result
11:52pm And, that is a wrap. Finally. After 40 overs of mind-blowing action, we went into over-time, and we went into over-drive in terms of drama. This is a game everyone will remember for a long, long time, but the WPL will be back in all its glory tomorrow as the Gujarat Giants take on the Delhi Capitals. Do join us for that contest too, and until then, this is me (Shashwat) signing off on behalf of Chetan, Ranjith and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Goodbye, goodnight and take care!
Sophie Ecclestone, Player of the Match: (Her thoughts) It was amazing experience. I never get nervous to bowl and that is the first time (in the Super Over) I have been nervous (to bowl). A massive team effort. (On taking the single off the penultimate ball) We could laugh about it now but I was fuming at the time. Kranti does not understand me, neither does anyone else (laughs). It was about if I was running, just run. Two from two now (in Bengaluru), excited to go up against Mumbai, and hopefully we can go three from three. (On receiving lots of advice when one ball was left in the Super Over) Everyone has been great, great team effort. Deepti was running mid-wicket to mid-wicket every ball, and we are just buzzing.
Deepti Sharma, UP Warriorz captain: Have to start controlling my nerves better moving forward (smiles). What a game of cricket. First time a Super Over in the WPL - felt really good. It was only possible because of Sophie's batting. It was a good team effort, we were positive as a batting unit. (On Ecclestone taking the single off the second-last ball) Have not had time to chat about that yet (laughs). (On Ecclestone bowling the last over) Had belief because she had bowled the 20th over (in the actual game) from that end. That is why she is one of the best bowlers in the world and today, she showed her character. We don't concentrate too much on the venues, the focus is to play good cricket. (On the celebrations tonight) We will go back to the hotel and celebrate (there).
Smriti Mandhana, Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain: Disappointing to be on the losing side today. Did a lot of things right, throughout the batting and the bowling innings. These things happen, we will take it and come back stronger. (On the powerplay) I have been very positive throughout the tournament but went into a shell a little bit. We have a few days, we will work on it and come back stronger. (On Perry) Always good to have Pez back bowling. An all-rounder like her, she is one of the greatest in women's cricket. Brilliant to watch (her batting). As a team, really have to tell her sorry…how could we not win that game for her. Ekta, Sneh Rana - all the bowlers bowled extremely well. Sometimes, it does happen and we can take a lot of pride from that game. Things faltered towards the end, we will take that in our stride and come back stronger.
Jon Lewis, UP Warriorz head coach: (On if he enjoyed that game) Absolutely, getting wins from the jaws of defeat. A great game to watch. (On if they had lost hope with two or three overs left) No, not at all. I did say to my batting coach that Sophie can strike the ball really well. She got a couple away, thought they did not bowl particularly well to her. Fair play to how she executed that (Super) over, showed her class. The 20th over in the game, plus that over in the game. Performs week in, week out everywhere she goes. We are not going to do calm-down, we are going to go for it every time - that is how we are going to play, hopefully everyone gets entertained and we can pick up a couple of wins. (On the opening pair and if they are wanting to change it) We are backing our young Indian players, to go on and perform under pressure. We would like to give them opportunities. (On the middle order and what he is expecting) Would be nice to get a few more runs, be a bit busier and rotate strike a bit better, we will be really competitive across conditions and against every team.
11:30pm And...breathe. An hour and a bit of absolutely breathless cricket, and it all came down to the final ball. Protagonist versus Protagonist. Ecclestone versus Mandhana. The top-ranked T20I bowler in the world, against who many might testify to as the best batter in the women's game. And it was Ecclestone's evening. It had begun becoming Ecclestone's evening a while back, to be fair to her, and the way she carted the ball to all parts in the 20th over of UPW's batting innings was a sight to behold, even if Renuka might not want to watch it again.
Prior to that, the Warriorz rode on a healthy run-rate throughout and cameos from top to bottom. None of them, though, carried on, which partly explains how they found themselves in a huge hole at the start of the last over. But having got past the finish line again, under extraordinary circumstances, they will start to feel this could be their year, considering they have not been at their absolute best, but have still fought to two amazing wins.
A tough pill to swallow for RCB. If you felt their defeat to the Mumbai Indians would have left them stunned, well, this was double that and some. In hindsight, they will feel they should have defended 18 off the 20th. They might even feel they could have juggled their bowlers better but instead, they will now have to go back to the drawing board and think about how to overcome two successive losses the next time they turn up. Such is this game. Such is this sport. And such is this tournament, which ebbs and flows when you least expect it to.
given a bit of air. Ghosh pre-empts it, skips down the track, takes it on the full but cannot middle it. Right off the toe-end and the ball dribbles down to long on for just a single. Six needed off the final ball. Well well.
fired in full just outside off. Mandhana can get under it but she cannot get under it enough. Slaps it on the bounce to long on and the RCB skipper is off strike now as well
8 needed off 3. Pressure on RCB. Suddenly, this is UPW's game to lose
a vociferous lbw appeal, and Ecclestone has come up trumps under enormous pressure! This is darted in very full on leg stump. Mandhana perhaps pre-meditates too much and walks across her stumps incredibly early. Cannot access the ball thereafter because of how full it is and she ends up playing all over it. Gets pinned in front and the finger goes up. Mandhana has reviewed but this could be more in hope. Uh, well, scratch all of that because....the ball has pitched a smidgen outside leg. By the barest of margins, it must be added. Touch-and-go as they say, and Mandhana survives!
has Ecclestone gotten a hand to this? Full on the stumps and Ghosh gives it the good'ol wind-up. Smacks it back at the bowler, who cannot get a hand to it. The ball smashes into the stumps at the other and end rolls away towards long on. Had Ecclestone got something on it, Mandhana might have been out
back of a length on middle and off, bowled from over the wicket. Ghosh can only tap it towards extra cover and that is a dot to start off the Super Over
11:18pm The umpires make their way out. Ecclestone was the sole UPW bowler warming up and it will not be a surprise if she is handed this responsibility. Perry, Mandhana and Ghosh were the three batters that could be spotted with their pads on, and are favourites to feature in this Super Over for RCB. It will be Ghosh and Mandhana to open, with Perry likely to play a part later. Ghosh is on strike. Ecclestone has the ball. 8 to get - here we go!
Well, that was a bit of an anti-climax, especially after the pyrotechnics in the actual game. Garth, though, deserves her flowers for bowling outside the batters' hitting arcs and making them hit to areas they did not want to access. RCB will fancy their chances of getting this done, especially with the firepower at their disposal but crazier things have happened in this sport tonight.
slower ball that lands right in the slot outside off. Harris reaches out for it and smashes it down the ground towards long off, and the Warriorz run just a single. Only seven off the Super Over, and Garth has produced the goods just when her team needed her to!
length ball bowled a mile outside off. Harris holds her stance and watches it go through to the keeper. Called a wide!
back-of-the-hand slower ball that ends up being a low full toss wide outside off. Ecclestone reaches out for it and digs it out towards long off. Just a single, though
excellent wide yorker and that is a massive dot. Ecclestone swings at it but cannot get under it. Cannot get any bat on it either and that is two dots in a row!
Ecclestone, who is responsible for this game going this deep, is the new batter
edged and gone! Garth gets the better of Henry for the second time in half an hour, and it is soon followed by an enormous roar from the crowd Slower ball on a full length wide outside off. Henry has an agricultural swipe across the line and gets a thick outside edge that is snaffled up by Ghosh. Lost her shape completely, and lost her wicket too!
oooh, called a wide! Full and wide outside off. Beyond the tramlines, it seems and called a wide once Henry lets it go. Mandhana, though, wants to get it checked again and goes upstairs. Henry was standing a little outside off, but the ball was further beyond the tramlines than her initial shuffle. Wide call stands
sliced again and it falls into safety! Garth hides it wide outside off. Henry goes after it (of course she does). Not the cleanest of connections again and the ball plugs in the deep cover region for a brace
sliced, and superlative work on the fence by Smriti Mandhana! Fullish outside off. Henry throws everything she has at it and gets a huge slice off the outside edge. Mandhana races across from deep point, puts in the dive and saves two
And the first-ever WPL Super Over is finally upon us. Harris and Henry, smiles, perhaps nervous, perhaps sheepish, walks out to the middle. Both of these can send the ball into oblivion, but can they handle the pressure this one-over shootout brings? Garth has the ball and will bowl the Super Over
11:02pm Oh my word. Oh my days. If you have any superlatives, throw them at us. Because this was beyond incredible. The Warriorz were almost out on their feet, and needed 18 off the last over. And then, with two mighty hits and a sublime boundary, the Warriorz only needed 2 off 2. Ecclestone then opted to level the scores and took a single off the penultimate ball, which left Goud to score the final run. And the youngster could not.
RCB would have experienced a range of emotions, and they now have to calm down that crescendo and get ready for a Super Over. Renuka, who almost lost the game, bowled a solid last ball to force a tie, and she might have to do it all over again. Who knows who will bowl. Who knows where this game is going to end up. Who knows what stories will write itself over the next few minutes.
But that is the beauty of this sport, isn't it?
Richa Ghosh does what MS Dhoni did all those years ago at this very venue against Bangladesh and we are going into a Super Over! Carnage at the Chinnaswamy! Box-office drama and Ecclestone, who brought the Warriorz to the cusp of a heroic and a stupendous win, is the one to be run out. By a distance, it must be said, and Goud does not know where to look. A completely different look on the RCB players' faces and those in the crowd - they know they have somehow managed to eke out a Super Over! Back to the ball now. This is full outside off and Goud swishes at it with all her might. Does not make contact and that brings Ghosh into play. She holds her nerve, she holds the ball and runs up to the stumps to catch Ecclestone half-way out of her crease. It is pandemonium in Bengaluru, and this game, which had no business going so deep, now has two more overs in it, and there is still no clarity on who will win it in the end!
Right then. What do you have up your sleeve, Kranti Goud? 1 off 1
on a length outside off. Ecclestone jabs it towards extra cover and the batters decide to take the single. Scores level!
Just two more needed now. And the Warriorz have two balls to get them
but Ecclestone is intent on silencing them. Again, and again, and again! Short and plenty of width on offer. Ecclestone throws the plumbing at it and scythes it over short third!
The Chinnaswamy with one final war cry
make that 6 off 3 - oh my word, Sophie Ecclestone has the UP Warriorz dreaming! Slower ball that ends up being a half-tracker on middle and off. Ecclestone reads it like the morning daily and clatters it over deep mid wicket!
12 off 4 now
into the stands! This game is not done yet! This is a gentle and a very juicy full toss on middle and leg. Ecclestone picks the line early, walks across her stumps and boshes it over long leg!
seems like a cutter that pitches on a length outside off. Ecclestone tries to tonk it into tomorrow and misses the ball by a country mile
Right. 18 needed off the last over, which will be bowled by Renuka. It has to be Ecclestone or bust for the Warriorz, you'd assume. Four in the ring on the off side, plus short fine leg
and Goud gets a brace off her first ball! Back of a length outside off. Goud throws everything at it and gets a thick outside edge that dribbles past short third but is pulled back before hitting the fence
Goud is the last batter in
that is a terrible, terrible call, and Saima is nowhere in the frame! Shortish on the stumps. Saima stays back and shovels it towards deep mid wicket. Both batters, for some reason, decide on the second and there was no chance they were ever going to make it. The throw goes to the batter's end and Saima, despite a sprawling dive, only completes half of the second run. The Warriorz nine down now, and on the brink!
into the night sky, and beyond the ropes! Saima wants a piece of the action too! Flighted up full on off. Saima, after shimmying around her crease arly, steps down the track and mauls it over the bowler's head!
tossed up generously on a full length outside off. Ecclestone skips down the track and drills it towards deep cover. Just a single, though
tossed up a little more, on a full length on middle and leg. Saima advances and heaves it towards deep mid wicket
back of a length just outside off. Saima hangs back and cuts it towards cover point
29 off 12. Still very much RCB's game to lose from here. Bisht to bowl the penultimate over
well well! Fired in full outside off. Ecclestone, rather ambitiously, shapes for the reverse and plays all around it. Could she have taken a single and been on strike for the 19th?
back of a length outside off. Ecclestone makes contact this time but cannot beat backward point
Wareham shortens the length and bowls it outside the arc, well outside off. Ecclestone swishes at it but only grabs a handful of fresh air
six more! Now then. Now then! Floated up into the slot on middle and leg. Ecclestone gets her front foot out of the way and swings through the line, hoisting it clean over the bowler's head!
going, going, gone! Ecclestone continues fighting! In the slot on the pads. Ecclestone bends her back knee, gets under it and whacks it over deep square leg!
loopy full toss outside off. Saima tugs it towards deep mid wicket and ambles across to the other end
42 off 18. RCB have one hand on this game. Wareham to bowl out
shortish outside off. Ecclestone gets on top of the bounce and dabs it towards backward point. A bit of miscommunication and Ecclestone has to dive to regain her ground. Although, it must be added that the throw never came in
safe! On the shorter side again, zipping into the hip region. Saima gets into a tangle and gets a top edge as she looks to work it away. Fortunately for her, it falls well short of fine leg
1W | 1W | |||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
| M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | |
| Toss | UP Warriorz Women, elected to field first |
| Series | |
| Season | 2024/25 |
| Player Of The Match | |
| Hours of play (local time) | 19.30 start, First Session 19.30-21.00, Interval 21.00-21.20, Second Session 21.20-22.50 |
| Match days | 24 February 2025 - night (20-over match) |
| Umpires | |
| TV Umpire | |
| Reserve Umpire | |
| Match Referee | |
| Points | Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women 0, UP Warriorz Women 2 |
Over 20 • UPW-W 180/10
Powered by Smart Stats