Ellyse Perry does it again as cricket fans erupt over Meg Lanning development in WPL

Ellyse Perry has led Royal Challengers Bangalore into the Women's Premier League final in India, where they will face off with Meg Lanning and the Delhi Capitals. Perry continued a sublime purple patch in the T20 tournament on Friday night (Saturday Aussie time), making 66 with the bat and taking 1-29 with the ball.

The Aussie all-rounder helped RCB overcome an early collapse of 4-49, with her 50-ball knock taking her side to a competitive total of 6-135 in the semi-final against Mumbai Indians. She then grabbed the key wicket of Yastika Bhatia for 19 as RCB won by five runs to advance to the final.

Perry won her second player-of-the-match award in a row, after she became the first player to take a six-wicket haul in her previous game. She took 6-14 and made 40 not out with the bat in the final game of the regular season - also against the Indians.

Ellyse Perry to battle Meg Lanning in WPL final

Her heroics on Friday night mean RCB will now take on Delhi Capitals in the final on Sunday night (Monday morning Aussie time). The final will pit Perry against fellow Aussie superstar Lanning, who was heartbroken to finish runner-up in the inaugural season of the WPL last year.

Lanning is hell-bent on winning the title, which serves as the only piece of major silverware that's eluded her in an illustrious career. The Capitals finished first in the regular season and advanced straight through to the final, with Lanning passing 300 runs for the tournament in their final game.

The Capitals may start as favourites in the final in front of their own fans at Arun Jaitley Stadium, but the form that Perry has rediscovered this week bodes well for the RCB team coached by Australian Luke Williams. "I guess you've just got to take the opportunities when they come your way," said Perry. "It's been nice for me the last couple of matches, it's just fallen my way at different points."

RCB captain Smriti Mandhana said of Perry: "What do I say about her? I think she's a legend. The way Ellyse kept her nerve with three wickets down, and even when she was out on the field later, saying 'guys, I still feel we can still win it' ... well, we saw what happened."

Aussie cricket stars on fire in Women's Premier League

Perry was aided by fellow Aussie Georgia Wareham, who smacked an unbeaten 18 off 10 balls at the end of the RCB innings. Wareham launched a huge six off the last ball of the innings, which ultimately proved decisive in the five-run win.

Sophie Molineux, the other Aussie playing for RCB, also played a key role in the victory. The all-rounder bowled a superb penultimate over, conceding just four runs and getting the dangerous Sajeevan Sajana stumped.

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Molineux finished with brilliant figures of 1-16 off four overs, while Wareham got the key wicket of English superstar Nat Sciver-Brunt in her 1-37. "I'm actually not really sure how we won that one," smiled Wareham. "We just really fought to the end. We said let's keep fighting, take it as deep as possible - and we did.

"Pez (Perry) dug us out of a hole with the bat, and gave us something to defend. She impacts the game in all facets, and to have someone like that on your team is invaluable. We're just lucky she's playing for RCB."

Cricket fans in frenzy over Ellyse Perry and Meg Lanning clash

Perry smacked eight fours and a six in her knock of 66, which took her to 312 runs for the tournament. That moved her past Lanning (308) for most runs overall.

"We're just ecstatic to get the chance to play in the final," said Perry. "The old adage of 'runs on the board' sometimes holds true and I think it did tonight. Can't wait for the final..."

Cricket fans were also in a frenzy over the prospect of seeing Perry facing Lanning in the decider. Lanning will be supported by compatriot Jess Jonassen, who has been in brilliant form in the WPL after being dumped from the Australian national team in all three formats.

with AAP

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