Sophie Ecclestone Shines As UP Warriorz Beat RCB In WPL's First-Ever Super Over

Sophie Ecclestone produced a superb all-round show to hand UP Warriorz a sensational win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the first-ever Super Over of the Women's Premier League on Monday. Sent into bat, Ellyse Perry and Danni Wyatt-Hodge sparkled with the bat to guide RCB 180 for six. Perry smashed an unbeaten 90 off 56 balls while opener Wyatt-Hodge made 57. But Ecclestone, who registered economical figures of 4-0-29-0, showed her prowess with the bat, scoring 33 off 19 balls to help UP Warriorz made a remarkable comeback to tie the match and take it to the Super Over, where they came out on top. UP Warriorz managed just eight runs in the super over bowled by Kim Garth.

The onus was then on RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh to chase down the target of nine runs against Ecclestone but the English cricketer came out on top, conceding just four runs.

Earlier, RCB lost Mandhana early, bowled by Deepti Sharma in the fourth over.

Perry joined hands with Wyatt-Hodge and the duo shared 94 runs in 65 balls for the second wicket to take RCB forward.

Richa Ghosh (8), Kanika Ahuja (5) and Georgia Wareham (8) all failed to contribute, but Perry held the fort for RCB.

Tahlia McGrath (1/30), Chinelle Henry (1/34) and Deepti (1/42) picked up a wicket each for UP Warriorz.

Chasing the total, UP Warriorz never got the momentum, losing wickets at regular intervals.

Openers Kiran Navgire (24) and Dinesh Vrinda (14) started on a promising note, sharing 30 runs in 2.5 overs before both departed in quick succession.

Navgire was the first to depart, bowled by Renuka Singh. Renuka came back an over later to dismiss Vrinda, who was caught at mid-off by Mandhana as she tried to hit a fullish delivery over the circle.

Off-spinner