In a thrilling encounter of WPL at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Delhi Capitals secured their first victory of the season against Royal Challengers Bangalore by 25 runs on 29 Feb Thursday, despite a fiery start from RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana. Mandhana and Sophie Devine provided a strong opening partnership, but RCB’s middle-order faltered, leading to their first defeat of the season.
Delhi Capitals Dominate RCB in WPL Clash
Opener Shafali Verma’s fluent 50 off 31 balls propels Delhi Capitals to a commanding 194 for five after being put in to bat. Despite Smriti Mandhana’s brilliant 74 off 43 balls, Royal Challengers Bangalore fall short, ending at 169 for nine in 20 overs. This defeat marks RCB’s first loss of the season.
Batting first, Delhi Capitals set a challenging target of 195 runs, with Shafali Verma and Alice Capsey leading the charge. Verma notched up a half-century before being dismissed, while Capsey contributed a valuable 46 runs to the total. Marizanne Kapp and Jess Jonassen’s late onslaught bolstered DC’s total.
RCB, opting to field first, faced a setback with Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry ruled out due to illness, replaced by South African Nadine de Klerk. Despite RCB’s solid start in the league, DC’s strong batting performance proved too much to handle.
Heading into the match of WPL, RCB had won both their previous games, showcasing a balanced team effort. Led by Mandhana, the team relied heavily on its bowlers, with Renuka Singh Thakur proving particularly effective in the Powerplay. However, DC’s formidable batting lineup posed a tougher challenge.
With the likes of Mandhana, Devine, and Perry in their ranks, RCB possessed a strong batting lineup, but it was their bowlers who had been instrumental in their early success. RCB entered the match with confidence, boosted by their previous victories and the impressive form of players like Sabbhineni Meghana.
Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore Women’s Squads
