'She Is A Legend': Ellyse Perry Praises Richa Ghosh's Batting

Richa Ghosh blasted off yet again in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) with the bat and helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) reach their highest first-innings total in the season as the Smriti Mandhana leg side scored 199/3 in their last game of the season.

RCB, who are currently last on the points table with four points in seven games, needed a big total on the board to challenge Mumbai Indians and avoid finishing with a wooden spoon after winning the last season. 

Smriti Mandhana and S Meghana gave a quick-fire start, and Mandhana, especially, looked in a great flow and finished her fourth WPL. However, she got out soon after, and Ghosh, who arrived at the crease after the fall of her skipper, gave even more impetus to RCB’s innings by scoring 36 off just 22 deliveries. She scored six and five stunning fours in her innings, which saw her hit over the extra cover and even play the reverse sweep to perfection — a shot that isn’t associated with the big-hitting Ghosh, who is famous for hitting between long on and long off.

“She (Richa Ghosh) works so hard on our game; she is a natural striker of the ball,” Ellyse Perry, who earned back the Orange Cap after 49* off 38 deliveries, said after the innings ended. 

“Nice to have her in the side, stay at the other end, and watch her access different parts of the ground. It is so impressive. She is a legend,” Perry said. 

Perry also praised Georgia Wareham, who scored 31 off just 10 deliveries and gave the much-needed late push to make MI chase 200 in their last league game of the season and finish at the top of the table to reach the final directly. 

“It is always lovely to play with her (Wareham),” Perry admitted.  

“She has played some integral innings for us with Australia. Such a good finisher accesses different areas. We have a strong Aussie contingent, and it's nice to have them (in the squad this season).”