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Ellyse Perry has conjured up another inspired display to steer Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to the Women's Premier League (WPL) final and a showdown with fellow Australian great Meg Lanning.
Perry followed up her record six-wicket haul and 40 not out against champions Mumbai Indians on Tuesday with a match-winning 66 and 1 for 29 in a nail-biting five-run win over the same opponents in Friday's "eliminator".
Her second player-of-the-match display in four days ensured RCB will meet Lanning's Delhi Capitals in Sunday's final.
"What do I say about her? I think she's a legend," RCB captain Smriti Mandhana said.
Table-topping Delhi may start as favourites in front of its own fans in the Arun Jaitley Stadium, but the form that Perry has rediscovered this week bodes well for the team coached by Australian Luke Williams.
"I guess you've just got to take the opportunities when they come your way," Perry said.
"It's been nice for me the last couple of matches, it's just fallen my way at different points."
After RCB opted to bat and slumped to 4 for 49, Perry helped ensure her side reached a defendable total of 6 for 135 as she cracked eight fours and a six in her 50-ball knock.
Perry got some belated help from fellow Australian Georgia Wareham, who made an unbeaten 18 off 10 balls at the end of the innings.
RCB's other Australian, Sophie Molineux, also played a key part, bowling a superb penultimate over in which she conceded just four runs and had Sajeevan Sajana stumped for 1.
Molineux finished with 1 for 16 off her four overs, while Perry bowled dangerous opener Yastika Bhatia (19) and Wareham got the key wicket of English ace Nat Sciver-Brunt (23) in her 1-37.
"We're just ecstatic to get the chance to play in the final," Perry said.
"The old adage of 'runs on the board' sometimes holds true and I think it did tonight."
AAP