Skipper Smriti Mandhana produced a near-perfect batting display to lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their fourth consecutive win in the Women’s Premier League. Her elegant 96 off 61 balls powered RCB to an eight-wicket victory over the Delhi Capitals , leaving the Delhi side at the bottom of the standings as the tournament prepares to shift to Vadodara.
The match began with a sensational opening burst from the RCB bowlers. Within the first nine balls, Delhi’s top order was decimated:
Lauren Bell removed both Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt in the opening over.
Sayali Satghare, replacing the unwell Arundhati Reddy, struck twice in the second over to dismiss Jemimah Rodrigues and Marizanne Kapp.
With the scoreboard reading 10 for 4, and later 74 for 6, Delhi looked set for a record low total.
Shafali Verma (62 off 41 balls) refused to buckle under the pressure. Displaying a mix of caution and her trademark explosive power, she anchored two vital stands- 59 with Niki Prasad and 34 with Sneh Rana. Her counter-attack included four massive sixes, keeping the Capitals afloat before she was eventually holed out in the deep.
In the final overs, debutant Lucy Hamilton provided the death-over impetus, smashing a 19-ball 36 to help Delhi reach a respectable 166 all out.
Despite an early exit for Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana remained in "sublime form." Alongside Georgia Voll (54* off 42), the RCB captain dismantled the Delhi bowling attack with clinical precision.
142-run partnership: The duo shared the third-highest partnership for any wicket in WPL history.
The near-ton: Mandhana looked set to break the WPL’s century drought, needing just four runs for the milestone with RCB 12 runs away. However, a brilliant diving catch by debutant Lucy Hamilton at backward point ended her stay at 96.
RCB eventually romped home with 10 balls to spare, maintaining an unblemished 4-0 record in the Navi Mumbai leg.
RCB heads into the Vadodara leg- starting January 19 as the clear team to beat. Their ability to strike with the new ball and the captain's imperious form at the top of the order has made them a tactical juggernaut.
For the Delhi Capitals, the situation is critical. With three losses in four matches, they remain at the foot of the table. While Shafali’s resilience and Hamilton’s debut spark provide hope, the lack of support for the top-order stars remains a glaring issue that must be resolved if they are to mount a comeback.
