Ellyse Perry, star Australian cricket team cricketer, has been in great form in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2024. She has been crucial in Royal Challengers Bangalore reaching the final of the WPL. Ellyse Perry took 6/15 and scored 40* as RCB beat Mumbai Indians to reach the play-offs. Against the same opponents in the Eliminator, Perry took 1/29 and scored 66 to help his team win by five runs to set up a final clash with Delhi Capitals.
After her exploits, an old video of her from 2020 has been re-shared by several social media users.
"Murali Vijay, in an interview was asked, if after the lockdown there were two people he would want to go on dinner with would it be? He said Shikhar Dhawan, one of his teammates, and you. What would you respond to that?" the anchor asked Ellyse Perry in the video.
"I hope he is paying if that's the case. That's very kind of him. I am very flattered," said Ellyse Perry on hearing the statement.
Talking about the Eliminator, Young off-spinner Shreyanka Patil and uncapped veteran leg-spinner Asha Sobhana showed nerves of steel to take Royal Challengers Bangalore into WPL final with a five-run victory over defending champions Mumbai Indians in the 'Eliminator' on Friday.
Chasing an easy target of 136 and needing 20 off last three overs, MI's innings ended at 130 for 6.
RCB, who entered their maiden final in the second edition, will meet last year's runner-up Delhi Capitals in the summit clash on Sunday.
It was 21-year-old Shreyanka (2/16 in 4 overs), whose vital 18th over raised visions of victory as she removed the MI skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (33).
RCB keeper Richa Ghosh paid the price for her slow movements failing to stump Harmanpreet off Shreyanka but the young off-spinner didn't lose heart as she flighted the ball once more and the Indian skipper was caught at long-on fence.
At a time when spinners are afraid of giving the ball air even in ODIs, Shreyanka's approach was a welcome departure and it did pay dividends.
Needing 16 off 12 balls, the experienced Aussie Sophie Molineux (1/16 in 4 overs) bowled a brilliant penultimate over in which she gave only four runs keeping 12 runs off final over for leg-spinner Sobhana to defend.
The 32-year-old spinner, who hasn't played for India, gave away only six runs as RCB team's joy knew no bounds with Indian vice-captain Mandhana outwitting her national team boss Harmanpreet tactically in the death overs.
Shreyanka also showed courage in Powerplay as she challenged the seasoned Hayley Matthews (15 off 14 balls) to clear the longest boundary towards deep mid-wicket fence only to be caught a feet inside the ropes.
Yastika Bhatia (19 off 27 balls) didn't really get going and Perry, who is having a dream run, bowled an angular delivery which the batter played all over to be clean bowled.
Nat Sciver-Brunt looked in good touch with four boundaries, two of which came back-to-back off leg-spinner Georgia Wareham's delivery before she delivered a flipper and rushed the batter, who was bowled through the gate.
Skipper Harmanpreet used the sweep shot well, dispatching Sobhana for consecutive boundaries.
Earlier, Ellyse Perry stood tall amid ruins with yet another elegant knock but Royal Challengers Bangalore could only manage a below-par 135 for 6 which proved to be enough in the end.
Perry's 66 off 50 balls was the cornerstone of RCB's total after their top-order was blown away by a disciplined MI attack, reducing them to 24 for 3 inside the four overs of Powerplay.
With PTI inputs