WPL 2025: Ecclestone Guides UP Warriorz to Historic Super Over Victory Over RCB

Bengaluru, Feb 24 (NationPress) UP Warriorz showcased extraordinary composure to achieve a thrilling four-run victory against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the inaugural Super Over of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Monday. Sophie Ecclestone stood out as the star performer, making significant contributions with both bat and ball, which were pivotal in the Warriorz's stunning triumph.

Ecclestone's performance felt like a scene from a gripping narrative, as she first made her mark with the bat and then delivered with the ball to clinch an unforgettable match. The UP Warriorz, facing imminent defeat, mounted a remarkable comeback to leave the defending champions in shock.

While pursuing a challenging target of 181, the Warriorz encountered early setbacks despite a fiery start from Kiran Navgire. The aggressive opener took the fight to Renuka Singh, hitting consecutive boundaries in the opening over. However, the momentum shifted when Renuka struck, cleaning out Navgire’s stumps for a brisk 24 off 12 balls.

Dinesh Vrinda and captain Deepti Sharma sought to stabilize the innings with valuable boundaries, but RCB’s disciplined bowling, spearheaded by Renuka and Sneh Rana, maintained the pressure. Rana made an immediate impact on her RCB debut, sending Tahlia McGrath back for a four-ball duck, and quickly followed up by dismissing the well-set Deepti for 25 (13). With Grace Harris also falling short, the Warriorz found themselves in a precarious position at 125/7 after 15 overs.

Shweta Sehrawat provided some resistance with a gritty 31 (25), forming a swift partnership with Uma Chetry that offered a glimmer of hope, but wickets continued to fall. Chinelle Henry hit a massive six before being dismissed by Kim Garth, and Saima Thakor’s 14 (8) was cut short due to a run-out mix-up. Ecclestone stepped onto the field with a daunting task ahead.

With only two batters remaining, Ecclestone demonstrated remarkable composure. She launched Georgia Wareham for consecutive sixes, but RCB tightened their grip with three dot balls. Needing 18 runs in the final over, Renuka Singh was tasked with closing the match, but Ecclestone had other ideas.

She smashed two sixes — one soaring over deep square leg and another over long-on — dramatically shifting the game’s momentum. A crucial four between backward point and short third, followed by a single on the next delivery, left the Warriorz needing just one run from the last ball. In a twist, Kranti Goud was deceived by a slower delivery outside off, and Richa Ghosh executed a brilliant direct hit, leaving Ecclestone stranded while racing for the winning run.

The Chinnaswamy Stadium erupted in jubilation as RCB celebrated what seemed an improbable escape, while the Warriorz were left astonished.

The match proceeded to a historic Super Over — the very first one-over eliminator in WPL history.

Kim Garth was entrusted with the bowling for RCB, while Chinelle Henry and Grace Harris took strike for UPW. The over commenced with tight lines that hindered the batters from scoring freely. Henry struggled to clear the ropes and, after mis-timing a shot, was caught off Garth’s bowling. With only nine runs on the board, the Warriorz understood they needed something extraordinary with the ball.

Ecclestone, already a hero with the bat, was assigned the challenge of defending 10 runs in RCB’s chase. Facing Richa Ghosh and Smriti Mandhana, she initiated with a dot ball, immediately applying pressure. A single followed before Mandhana was declared LBW but successfully reviewed the call. Yet, with six runs needed off the last ball, Ecclestone kept her cool, delivering a perfect yorker that limited RCB to just one run.

Brief scores:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru 180/6 in 20 overs (Elyse Perry 90 not out, Danielle Wyatt-Hodge 57; Chinelle Henry 1-34, Tahlia McGrath 1-30) tied UP Warriorz 180 all out in 20 overs (Sophie Ecclestone 33, Shweta Sehrawat 31; Sneh Rana 3-27, Renuka Singh 2-36). UPW won the one-over eliminator by four runs.