Beleaguered RCB in search of victory against ousted Warriorz in Match number 18 of the Women’s Premier League.
Beleaguered RCB are desperately searching for a win to not only end their losing streak, but also keep their hopes alive of defending their title as they face UP Warriorz.
RCB have had a 6-day break to rest, recharge, and find answers to arrest an alarming 4-game losing streak. The defending champions currently are 4th in the points table, and find themselves in do-or-die territory.
The equation for Smriti Mandhana’s side is very simple. They have to win both their remaining games and hope other results tilt the balances in their favor.
But to get those wins, it is high time that the entire RCB team fire together as a unit. Inconsistency has been the bane of this side throughout the tournament. The batting has been overly reliant on Mandhana and Ellyse Perry, while the bowling has felt the absence of the 4th and 5th bowling option.
Changing their batting order frequently hasn’t helped Warriorz, who have failed in every area. Despite being explosive towards the end, Chinelle Henry has not been promoted to deal with the middle-order problems. As captain and bowler, Deepti Sharma has also had a lacklustre performance, taking five wickets at an economy rate of 8.11 in seven games. The only bowler who has appeared dangerous is Sophie Ecclestone.
With the Warriorz already out of contention, expect them to play the party poopers in RCB’s quest for qualification. It is interesting to note that it was UPW who started the losing streak for RCB the last time they met. Sophie Ecclestone’s blitz with the bat and a memorable super-over performance giving Warriorz the win.
This season, Ellyse Perry has been RCB’s standout hitter. She has amassed 295 runs in six games with a strike rate of 149.74, and she has four half-centuries, the most of any player in this WPL. Perry will be the main focus because Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Mandhana are having trouble with their form at the top. In the first two games, top-order hitters have already scored three half-centuries for Lucknow. With RCB’s season on the line, Perry must repeat the feat.
When RCB hosted Warriorz two weeks ago, Sophie Ecclestone’s all-around heroics astounded the Chinnaswamy Stadium. At Warriorz, she is the only bowler who has bowled all seven of her allotted four overs. She has taken six wickets at an economy rate of 6.96 as a result.