February 25, 2025: In a gripping encounter that went down to the wire, UP Warriorz emerged victorious over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in a nail-biting Super Over, marking the first time a Women’s Premier League (WPL) match had been decided by such a dramatic finish.
The high-scoring thriller ended in a tie, forcing the Super Over to determine the winner. UP Warriorz sent Grace Harris and Chinelle Henry to bat first, managing 8/1 in their over. RCB, needing 9 runs to claim the win, could only manage 4 runs, handing the game to UP Warriorz.
Reflecting on the intense finale, former Indian cricket captain Mithali Raj admitted she had doubts about whether the 8 runs would be enough, considering the high-scoring nature of WPL matches. “At one point, I thought that eight or nine runs might not be enough in a Super Over, especially with the scoring rates often reaching 12 or 13 runs per over,” Raj commented on JioHotstar. “With RCB needing just 9 to win, it seemed in their favour. But Sophie Ecclestone delivered an exceptional over for UP Warriorz!”
Ecclestone, who had already contributed with the bat, was the hero with the ball, showing composure and skill in the crucial Super Over. Raj was full of praise for the atmosphere at the stadium and the team’s performance, especially Ecclestone’s match-winning efforts.
Raj also acknowledged the missed opportunity for UP Warriorz to close the game earlier, referencing the final ball of regulation time, when Kranti Goud missed the ball completely. Despite this, she emphasized the remarkable overall performance of the team and praised Ecclestone’s all-round contributions.
“Her performance was sensational, both with the bat and with the ball in the Super Over,” Raj concluded, encapsulating the thrilling nature of the game and the unforgettable moment it created in WPL history.