In the fourth match of the Women’s Premier League, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru showed off their well-rounded team in an eight-wicket victory against Delhi Capitals. They outclassed the opposition in all departments in the evening show in Vadodara.
Skipper Smriti Mandhana’s decision to field paid off as RCB’s bowlers made inroads into the DC batting line–up, taking regular wickets and preventing any significant partnerships from forming.
RCB made easy work of the chase as Mandhana and Dani Wyatt dominated the powerplay, staying well ahead of the required run-rate. The captain looked in sublime touch, effortlessly finding gaps and scoring regular boundaries, while Wyatt played the perfect second fiddle.The two stitched a 107–run partnership and tipped the scales heavily in favour of RCB.
Arundhati Reddy finally broke the partnership as Wyatt returned for 42 (33). While Mandhana couldn’t score the winning runs, she had already secured her team the victory with her knock of 81 (47). The team was home in a mere 16.2 overs, making it two wins in a row. DC had won their opening match.
Looking back on the first innings, RCB delivered a brilliant bowling performance as they restricted DC to just 141 in 19.3 overs. DC, who were coming off a dominant win, struggled to build partnerships and failed to capitalise on their early momentum.
Shafali Verma got out for a golden duck. Meg Lanning and Jemimah Rodrigues did well to rebuild the innings and took DC to 55/1 at the end of the powerplay. Georgia Wareham broke their 59–run partnership as she sent Jemimah back for 34 (22). Lanning 17 (19) lost her wicket soon after.
Annabel Sutherland gave a glimpse of hope with a promising 19 (13), but with wickets falling in quick succession, thanks to Ekta Bisht who removed Jess Jonassen and Marizanne Kapp, DC failed to gain momentum.
A seventh-wicket, 25-run partnership between Shikha Pandey and Sarah Bryce stabilised the innings but not for too long. Renuka Singh Thakur and Wareham were the standout bowlers with three wickets each. Renuka was adjudged Player of the Match.