Chasing just 158 to win, Ireland struggled initially, ending the third day at 33-5, with Zimbabwe’s Richard Ngarava taking four wickets for 12 runs in just four overs.

However, on the fourth day, Ireland lost only one more wicket. Lorcan Tucker and McBrine, who scored an unbeaten 55, steadied the ship after Ireland had collapsed to 21-5. They added 96 runs for the sixth wicket before Tucker was dismissed with Ireland still needing 41 runs.

Mark Adair, who is from nearby Holywood, scored 24 not out and hit the winning boundary, taking Ireland to 158-6 and securing victory with more than a day to spare.

McBrine was named player of the match for his excellent performance, taking a combined 7-75 across Zimbabwe’s two innings.

“McBrine is the player you want in your team,” said Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie. “Exceptionally skillful and deserved the award today.”

ALSO READ: Ben Stokes hails ‘phenomenal’ Mark Wood after Edgbaston haul seals series sweep

This win marked Ireland’s first home victory in Test cricket and their second consecutive win after beating Afghanistan in March.

“We believed we could win,” said Balbirnie. “That partnership was special, and it was fitting for Mark, a hometown boy, to get us over the line.”

This match was the first Test held in Northern Ireland and the second in Ireland after Malahide, making it the 123rd Test venue in history.

“Growing up, I never thought there’d be a Test here,” said McBrine, who is from Donemana in Northern Ireland. “We tried to stay positive.”

McBrine also credited Ireland’s fast bowlers for their support. “It wasn’t an easy wicket to bowl on, but their rotation allowed me to take wickets.”

Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine reflected on the missed opportunity when Ireland was struggling at 33-5. “We needed five or six more overs last night,” he said. “Our games against Ireland are always competitive.”

Ramsbottom Cricket Club‘s women’s team will compete against men’s and mixed-gender teams in the league’s Third XI section for the 2024 season.

Club officials made the decision to fast-track the development of the women’s team after their unbeaten run and championship win in the Women’s Lancashire Cricket Foundation League last season.

Captain Daisy Hunt expressed the team’s high hopes for the upcoming year. The team was established in 2020 and has set ambitious goals for themselves.

While the club believes that the future of women’s cricket lies in women playing against each other in a competitive league, they saw the need for an interim solution to support the progress of the female players at Ramsbottom.

In addition to their participation in the Lancashire League, the women’s and girls’ first XI will continue competing in the women’s Lancashire Cricket Foundation League next season, aiming to defend the titles they earned this year.

ALSO READ: Power-hitting Will Jacks, Virat Kohli help RCB tame GT

‘History-making team’

“At the end of the last season, we felt that with the talent we have, we needed to push ourselves further to keep growing,” Hunt explained.

Teammate Maeve Jones shared with BBC North West Tonight, “The club fully supports this decision because it puts Ramsbottom on the map as the trailblazing team. Our fans are just as thrilled as we are about this opportunity.”

“I believe it demonstrates that if other teams have women’s sides, they can also achieve great things with determination,” Jones added.

Get all the updates, scores, and highlights from the Mumbai Indians vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore eliminator match in Delhi.

Royal Challengers Bangalore won by five runs, securing their spot in the final.

Despite not batting too well, Ellyse Perry scored 66 runs off 50 balls, leading RCB to a decent total of 135 runs in 20 overs.

On the bowling front, Shreyanka Patil took two wickets, while Sophie Molineux and Georgia Wareham got one each, helping RCB keep up the pressure. Asha Shobana then sealed the victory for RCB.

RCB will now face Delhi Capitals in the WPL 2024 final.

ALSO READ: Tanzid Hasan, Rishad Hossain star in Bangladesh’s series victory

FAQ:

Where will the Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, WPL 2024 Eliminator be played?

MI-W vs RCB-W will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

What time will the Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, WPL 2024 Eliminator begin?

MI-W vs RCB-W will start at 7:30 PM IST.

Which TV channels will broadcast the Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, WPL 2024 Eliminator?

MI-W vs RCB-W will be televised on the Sports 18 Network in India.

How do I watch Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, WPL 2024 Eliminator via live streaming?

MI-W vs RCB-W will be streamed live on the JioCinema app and website in India.

MI-W XI: Hayley Matthews, Yastika Bhatia(w), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar, S Sajana, Humaira Kazi, Shabnim Ismail, Saika Ishaque

RCB-W XI: Smriti Mandhana(c), Sophie Molineux, Ellyse Perry, Sophie Devine, Richa Ghosh(w), Georgia Wareham, Disha Kasat, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, Shraddha Pokharkar, Renuka Thakur Singh

That’s sports for you. In a thrilling T20 match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, the Royal Challengers Bangalore triumphed over the Mumbai Indians by just five runs in the Eliminator, securing their spot in the Women’s Premier League final for the first time. Smriti Mandhana was overwhelmed with joy, while Harmanpreet had a tough time accepting the loss, seen trying to compose herself as she congratulated the RCB players.

During the chase, Mumbai Indians seemed to have the game under control, with Harmanpreet and Amelia Kerr batting confidently. However, RCB staged a late comeback, with Shreyanka Patil and Sophie Molineux bowling brilliantly in the final overs, restricting MI’s scoring.

ALSO READ: WPL 2024: Shreyanka Patil Is Always In For A Fight, Says RCB’s Assistant Coach Malolan Rangarajan

Despite a valiant effort by MI, they fell short of the target. RCB’s captain, players, and fans were in disbelief at the unexpected turn of events.

Mandhana expressed her happiness, praising her team’s bowling and fielding efforts, especially highlighting Asha Sobhana’s exceptional last over. RCB will now face Delhi Capitals in the WPL 2024 final at the same venue on Sunday.

During a crucial match, Shreyanka bowled an excellent over, only giving away four runs and taking a wicket when RCB needed it most. This helped them win the game and advance to the final. Her overall performance in the match, taking two wickets for just 18 runs, turned the tide in RCB’s favor.

Shreyanka Patils journey to success hasn’t been smooth sailing. She struggled in the Bengaluru leg of WPL 2024 but bounced back strongly in Delhi, showing her growth and adaptability as a player.

ALSO READ: WPL 2024 Playoff: Can Defending Champions Mumbai Overcome Tough Bangalore Challenge?

Her coach praised her determination and willingness to improve, noting her resilience even when dealing with injuries. Despite facing challenges, Shreyanka’s hard work and dedication have paid off, earning her recognition both at the domestic and international levels.

Fans were ecstatic about RCB’s win, with many sporting their team’s jersey and eagerly discussing the game’s highlights. Shreyanka’s stellar performance undoubtedly contributed to their joy and excitement, leaving them eager for the final match.

Both teams are vying for a spot in the final alongside the Delhi Capitals. Last time, Harmanpreet Kaur’s team suffered a 7-wicket loss against a strong RCB side.

ALSO READ: ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup is back after 14-day break

This time around, fans can expect a different Mumbai team when they hit the field on March 15 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The outcome of the Eliminator game will depend a lot on how both teams handle the conditions, as they are evenly matched. Bengaluru usually sees high scores, while Delhi’s pitch has been unpredictable during the WPL 2024 matches. The pitch for the Eliminator hasn’t been decided yet, adding to the excitement.

Mumbai’s campaign has been led well by their captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, who has been their best batter, scoring 235 runs in 6 innings with a good average and strike rate. Shabnim Ismail has been outstanding with her bowling, even recording the fastest delivery in women’s cricket. Mumbai hopes to have opener Yastika Bhatia back, who missed their last game against RCB. Other players like Amelia Kerr and Nat Sciver-Brunt are also important for their all-around contributions.

RCB, on the other hand, has seen great performances from key players Smriti Mandhana and Ellyse Perry. They have scored a lot of runs with impressive strike rates. Perry has also been strong with her bowling, setting records during RCB’s win over Mumbai.

Sometimes, the way math mixes with sports seems just plain crazy. Take, for instance, the last game in the league between the Delhi Capitals and the Gujarat Giants. It had a pretty wild condition attached to it. If the Giants managed to beat the Capitals by a whopping 118 runs, they could have knocked Delhi out of their chance for a second consecutive final appearance. That would mean Delhi would have to slog through the eliminator round instead.

But, thankfully, this game didn’t turn into a spectacle for chaos-lovers. The Capitals comfortably won by seven wickets at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, marking the end of the league stage of WPL 2024. And what’s more, they finished at the top of the table for the second season running.

ALSO READ: Massive Setback For Delhi Capitals As Harry Brook Opts Out Of IPL 2024

DC-W vs GG-W Highlights WPL 2024

Beth Mooney chose to bat first but was quickly dismissed by Marizanne Kapp without scoring any runs. Jess Jonassen then got D. Hemalatha out by hitting her off stump. Kapp took another wicket in the early overs by dismissing Laura Wolvaardt, caught by Shafali Verma.

Ashleigh Gardner and Phoebe Litchfield, who haven’t performed well with the bat this season, started decently but were eventually dismissed by Minnu Mani and Shikha Pandey. Bharti Fulmali and Kathryn Bryce showed some resistance by putting together a 68-run partnership, helping their team reach a total of 126/9, which, although not high, was respectable.

In reply, Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma made a quick start, scoring 31 runs in the first three overs. Shabnam Shakil, who wanted to dismiss this pair, had to wait for another chance as Lanning and Verma played quality cricket.

Despite Lanning and Alice Capsey getting out early, Shafali continued to score boundaries, with Jemimah Rodrigues supporting her from the other end. Shafali was finally dismissed by Tanuja Kanwer as she went for a big shot to finish the game. The match was won convincingly by the Capitals well before the 10th over, securing a comprehensive victory with 6.5 overs remaining in the game.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) had a great game thanks to Ellyse Perry. They beat Mumbai Indians (MI) by seven wickets, which guaranteed their spot in the playoffs of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024. This win also knocked out UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants from playoff contention.

Before this game, only Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals had secured their spots in the playoffs. RCB needed a win to join them, while UPW and GG hoped for Mumbai Indians to lose heavily for a chance.

Bangalore, coming off a close loss to Delhi Capitals in their last game, didn’t leave anything to chance this time. They performed excellently to secure their spot in the knockout stage. Mumbai Indians chose to bat first, but Ellyse Perry’s superb bowling limited them to a modest score of 113. Perry also played a key role with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 40 runs and partnering with Richa Ghosh (36 not out) for a crucial 76-run partnership, helping RCB chase down the target of 115 in just 15 overs.

Although Mumbai Indians had a good start with their openers adding 43 runs, Ellyse Perry’s outstanding bowling turned the game around. She took six wickets in her last three overs, with MI losing their last nine wickets for only 48 runs.

ALSO READ: Rachin Ravindra plays an elegant straight drive

Perry’s performance was exceptional, especially after not taking any wickets in her previous four WPL matches. She bowled brilliantly, getting key wickets including those of Sajana, captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Amanjot Kaur, and Pooja Vastrakar, while also dismissing Kerr and Sciver-Brunt.

Bangalore’s team didn’t start well when their first batters, Mandhana and Sophie Molineux, got out early in the game. Then, Sophie Devine followed suit not long after the powerplay. Even though Mumbai tried hard to put pressure on them, Perry and Ghosh stood their ground and steadily increased the score. They hit nine fours and three sixes together, securing RCB’s spot in the Eliminator match.

Moving on, the Delhi Capitals are set to play against the Gujarat Giants in their last league stage match on Wednesday at Arun Jaitley Stadium. Winning this match means they go straight to the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 final. DC is also gearing up to face the Gujarat Giants in their last WPL game and has already made it to the playoffs. With five wins, two losses, and a total of 10 points, DC is leading the pack.

At 35/5 while chasing a target of 154, UP Warriorz seemed almost defeated in their final game. However, a remarkable late surge from Deepti Sharma (88* off 60 balls) and Poonam Khemnar (36*) nearly took them to victory, but they ultimately lost by eight runs.

With this win, Gujarat Giants still have a chance of qualifying for the playoffs if Royal Challengers Bangalore lose to Mumbai Indians on Tuesday, and GG beats Delhi Capitals by a significant margin on Wednesday. Despite the loss, Warriorz are not completely out of contention.

ALSO READ: Shocking Behaviour By Pakistan’s Naseem Shah During PSL Match, Kicks Stumps And Gets Fined

GG’s openers Laura Wolvaardt and Beth Mooney, who had performed well in their previous victory, once again played crucial roles. Wolvaardt scored a quick 43 off 30 balls, setting up a 60-run opening partnership, while captain Mooney’s unbeaten 74 off 52 balls guided GG to a competitive total of 152/8. Although no other batter contributed significantly, the duo’s partnership proved vital.

Despite the Warriors’ bowler Sophie Ecclestone’s impressive 3/38, Deepti Sharma (2/22), Rajeshwari Gayakwad (1/28), and Chamari Athapaththu (1/25) kept the run rate under control after GG opted to bat.

In response, Shabnam Shakil stood out for GG, taking three important wickets, while Kathryn Bryce (1/26) and Ashleigh Gardner (1/30) also contributed to restricting Warriorz. Although Warriorz struggled at the start, Deepti and Pooja (36* off 36 balls) initiated a remarkable fightback, forming an unbeaten 109-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Despite Deepti’s third successive half-century and Pooja’s solid support, their efforts weren’t enough to secure victory for Warriorz.

Batting first, Delhi Capitals made 181 runs for 5 wickets in 20 overs. Captain Meg Lanning and Shafali Varma gave their team a good start with 54 runs for the first wicket. But they both got out quickly, leaving their team at 60 runs for 2 wickets.

Even though RCB got these two important wickets, Jemimah Rodrigues and Alice Capsey made a strong partnership, adding 97 runs for the third wicket. Shreyanka Patil finally broke their partnership by getting Rodrigues out for 60, followed by Capsey for 48.

Smriti Mandhana and her teammates are heartbroken:

In the chase for 182 runs, RCB faced an early setback as their captain Smriti Mandhana was dismissed cheaply, scoring only 5 runs before being sent back by Capsey. Despite getting off to promising starts, players like Sophie Molineux (33), Ellyse Perry (49), and Sophie Devine (26) couldn’t stay till the end or convert their starts into big scores.

ALSO READ: DC vs RCB WPL 2024 Highlights: Delhi Capitals Edge Past Royal Challengers Bangalore in a Last-ball Thriller

Both Molineux and Devine were dismissed in quick succession, leaving RCB struggling at 93 for 3, before Richa joined Devine in the middle. The pair stabilized the innings before stepping up the attack when RCB needed 57 runs from the last five overs. Although Devine departed in the 18th over, Richa remained till the end but was unfortunately run out on the final ball with two runs needed.

Richa’s valiant effort, including hitting two sixes in the final over and completing a 28-ball fifty, wasn’t enough to secure victory for RCB. The team was left heartbroken after the defeat, finding it tough to cope with the loss.

On Monday (March 11), RCB shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) where their head coach Luke Williams tried to lift the spirits of the disappointed players.

Currently, with three wins from seven games, RCB holds the third position in the points table. Their final league match is against Mumbai Indians on Tuesday.