RCB Clinch WPL Title After Record Chase Against Delhi

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) created one of the most incredible pursuit in the history of the Women's Premier League (WPL) chasing down 204 to beat Delhi Capitals (DC) by six wickets and win their second championship in a thrilling final.

RCB reorganized the 203 of DC with a commanding 165-run partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll, to accomplish the highest successful pursuit in the tournament. The victory also extended Delhi’s heartbreak in finals, marking yet another defeat at the last hurdle.

The game went both ways until the end. RCB lost three wickets in 14 balls toward the end of the chase briefly leaving a window open to Delhi. However, when eight were needed out of four deliveries, Radha Yadav kept her calm, and hit two back-to-back boundaries off N Shree Charani to win it dramatically.

Mandhana and Voll began on a sound basis when RCB had nosedived to 9 for 1 at the start of the innings. The pair counterattacked brilliantly, stitching together the highest partnership for any wicket in WPL history. Mandhana was on fire with 87 and Voll was on point with 79 that made sure the necessary rate did not go out of control.

Earlier, Delhi Capitals had posted one of the biggest totals in a women’s T20 final. Once requested to bat, they started slowly and then Lizelle Lee changed gears and hit successive sixes in an over that was very costly provided by Sayali Satghare. Shafali Verma though displaying an early promise finished with an edge behind after her brisk 20.

The innings were made steady by Laura Wolvaardt and Lee, and broken by Nadine de Klerk. Jemimah Rodrigues then assumed the reins, and played with grace and power to make a handsome 57. She had limits at will, and particularly by the off side, and raised her half-century off on only 32 balls before she fell to a full toss.

Wolvaardt contributed a subdued 44, but the late attack of Chinelle Henry got Delhi over 200. Her aggressive cameo, including multiple boundaries in the penultimate over, gave the innings a decisive push as DC finished on 203 for 4 - the second-highest first-innings total in a women’s T20 final.

RCB’s reply began briskly before Grace Harris fell early. Mandhana and Voll then took control, rotating strike smartly and punishing anything loose. Mandhana was particularly dominant, racing to her half-century in just 23 balls - her fastest in the competition - while Voll reached her fifty with measured assurance.

As the overs wound and the goal lay in sight the target, Delhi took a final fightback. Voll left at 79, Richa Ghosh followed soon after and a vital blow was dealt by Henry who sacked Mandhana at 87, to temporarily revive the prospects of DC.

However, a missed opportunity of Radha Yadav was an expensive one. As the match became a nail-biter towards the end, Radha hit two crucial fences to finish a phenomenal pursuit with the title.

To RCB it was a win of calmness and faith - breaking of records achieved by steady finishing amidst adverse conditions. In the case of Delhi Capitals, this was another final that agonizingly escaped them.

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