WPL: Voll hits 99 not out as UPW knock out RCB with 12-run win
Lucknow, Mar 8 (PTI): Georgia Voll smashed a majestic unbeaten 99 as out-of-contention UP Warriorz played party-poopers, eliminating defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru from the Women's Premier League with a thrilling 12-run win in a high-scoring match here on Saturday.
The 21-year-old Voll was in exceptional form, striking 17 fours and one six in her 56-ball innings to power UPW to a record total of 225/5, the highest ever in the tournament's history.
UPW's top order was in explosive form, with Kiran Navgire (46 off 16 balls), Grace Harris (39 off 22), and Chinelle Henry (19 off 15) all contributing with aggressive batting after being asked to bat first.
In reply, Richa Ghosh's blistering 33-ball 69 and Sneh Rana's fiery hitting, including three sixes and two fours off Deepti Sharma in the 19th over, kept RCB in the hunt. However, they fell short, finishing at 213 all out in 19.3 overs, unable to chase down the record target.
With the victory, UPW ended their campaign with six points, while RCB remained on four with one match left. The result also confirmed the knockout berths for Gujarat Giants and Mumbai Indians, who are both on eight points with one and two matches remaining, respectively.
Delhi Capitals had already secured their spot in the knockout stage with 10 points.
RCB started their chase confidently, reaching 70/2 in the first six overs, but lost wickets at regular intervals as they attempted to keep up with the required run rate.
Sabbhineni Meghana (27) hit two fours and as many sixes off Harris in the second over, but Henry removed skipper Smriti Mandhana (4). Ellyse Perry (28) struck three fours off the bowler before Sophie Ecclestone dismissed Meghana.
Raghvi Bist and Perry continued to fight back, taking on Kranti Goud, but Anjali Sarvani, making her debut, cleaned up Perry, and Henry sent Bist back, leaving RCB at 80/4 in 7.3 overs.
Ghosh then launched a blistering counter-attack, blasting five sixes and six fours in her 33-ball knock, but was eventually caught by Henry off Deepti Sharma.
With 43 runs needed from the final 12 balls, Rana smashed some big hits off Deepti, but the bowler had her caught on the last ball.
RCB, who had lost their last four matches, saw skipper Mandhana win the toss, but Voll and Harris seized the opportunity, posting the highest powerplay score of the season -- 67/0.
Harris was the aggressor early on, smashing five fours off Kim Garth, while Voll contributed with three fours off Renuka Singh.
The partnership was broken when Harris was run out, but Navgire joined Voll for a rapid 71-run stand off 31 balls, taking UPW to 100 in just 9.3 overs. Navgire hit five sixes before being dismissed by Perry at long-off.
Voll and Henry added 43 runs off 25 balls as UPW continued their relentless attack. Henry hit four boundaries before being dismissed, leaving UPW at 191/3 in the 17th over.
Voll finished just one run short of a century as Deepti Sharma was run out off the final ball.
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Mamata alleges BJP disrupted her Bhabanipur rally, Suvendu claims 'she's nervous'
Kolkata (PTI): Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee cut short her speech at a rally in her Bhabanipur constituency, alleging that the BJP was deliberately playing loud music from a nearby public meeting.
A peeved Banerjee said despite having the required permission of the Election Commission, her rally in Chakraberia was disrupted by the BJP, "who want to capture Bengal by intimidation and threat".
"It is not possible for me to go ahead with this meeting. If they can do such a thing in my constituency, imagine how undemocratic the BJP is. If they behave like this, I have to take legal action," she said.
"This is an insult, humiliation. BJP is stepping on our toes to instigate trouble. Not possible to address the gathering in this situation. I am leaving the stage. Please vote for me in your protest," she added.
Banerjee was then seen calling someone over and venting her grievances.
Before leaving the stage, she said, "I will hold a rally tomorrow at the same spot."
TMC supporters then rushed towards the BJP rally, which was later addressed by Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, but security personnel intervened and prevented the situation from escalating.
TMC workers later staged a demonstration outside the local police station and filed a complaint, alleging that the BJP violated the model code of conduct.
A senior TMC leader said another complaint will also be lodged with the Election Commission.
Asked about Banerjee's allegations, Adhikari told reporters after the rally he held nearby, "Her reaction shows she is nervous about the imminent loss."
"There was no violence, no obstruction in her meeting and her behaviour shows her nervousness. On May 4, people of Bhabanipur will celebrate the victory of the BJP," he claimed, alleging that the TMC also tried to disrupt his meeting by playing loud music.
South Kolkata's Bhabanipur, one of the battleground seats in the West Bengal elections, will vote in the second phase on April 29.
