WPL 2024: Sophie Devine gets a reprieve as bails light up without falling during Eliminator match

Royal Challengers Bangalore Women opener Sophie Devine had a lucky break during the Eliminator game of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 on Friday, March 15 at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. In the very first over of the game bowled by Mumbai Indians Women’s Shabnim Ismail, Devine got an inside edge which hit her leg stump.

However, much to her delight, the bails didn’t fall and the ball went running away for a boundary. Even the LED lights on the bails lit up, which made Ismail and wicketkeeper Yatika Bhatia think they had got the RCB opener. However, upon seeing the stumps undisturbed the MI seamer was seen in disbelief as she cupped her face in anguish.

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However, after getting an early reprieve, Devine failed to make the most of it as she got her stumps destroyed in the second over by Hayley Matthews and got dismissed for 10 (7). Her opening partner and captain Smriti Mandhana (10 off 7) also fell cheaply as she mistimed a shot which went straight to the fielder at deep extra cover leaving RCB on 20/2 after 2.2 overs.

Ellyse Perry's half-century guided RCB to a decent score

RCB further lost Disha Kasat for a duck and were in all sorts of trouble at 23/3 after 3.4 overs. After three early wickets, Richa Ghosh tried to dig in with Ellyse Perry but the duo couldn’t extend their partnership beyond 26 (33) as Ghosh fell prey to Nat Sciver Brunt in the tenth over as RCB further succumbed to 49/4 after 9.1 overs.

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However, Perry held one end and continued to take the scoreboard forward getting involved in crucial partnerships with Sophie Molineux (11 off 17) and Georgia Wareham (18* off 10). She played a brilliant innings of 66 (50) with the help of eight fours and a six. Courtesy of her innings, RCB managed to post a decent total of 135/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Hayley Matthews (2/18), Nat Sciver-Brunt (2/18) and Saika Ishaque (2/27) picked up two wickets each for Mumbai.