Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) secured their first-ever Women’s Premier League (WPL) title at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, defeating Delhi Capitals by eight wickets.
Led by Ellyse Perry’s stellar performance and backed by effective bowling from Shreyanka Patil and Sophie Molineux, RCB showcased an all-round mastery in the game to also mark their first T20 title across both WPL and IPL domains.
The chase for RCB began cautiously with openers Smriti Mandhana and Sophie Devine laying a solid foundation without taking significant risks, amassing 18 runs in the initial four overs. The duo managed a decent powerplay, bringing the score to 25/0 after six overs. The momentum picked up with Devine’s aggressive batting in the seventh over, boosting the score significantly.
Despite a brief slowdown, RCB’s chase was re-energised with key boundaries by Mandhana and Perry. The partnership between Mandhana and Perry played a crucial role, with Perry bringing experience and calm to the crease. The strategic play saw RCB needing just 31 runs in the final five overs, a target they approached with measured aggression.
With the game nearing its end, RCB required just five runs in the final over, a goal they achieved comfortably, finishing at 115/2 in 19.3 overs. Perry and Richa Ghosh remained unbeaten, sealing the victory and the title for RCB.
The win was set up by RCB’s spinners who effectively dismantled the DC batting lineup. Starting strong, DC openers Meg Lanning and Shefali Verma initially looked threatening but were quickly countered by RCB’s disciplined bowling.
Shreyanka Patil emerged as a key player for RCB, claiming four wickets and significantly restricting DC’s scoring potential. Sophie Molineux and Asha Sobhana also contributed crucial wickets, wrapping up DC for 113 all out.
This victory not only marks RCB’s triumphant entry into the WPL championship records but also signals a strong team performance that overcame expectations and past performances. The win is a testament to RCB’s balanced team strength and strategic gameplay, setting a high benchmark for future tournaments.
Brief Score: Delhi Capitals 113 all out (Shefali Verma 44, Meg Lanning 23, Shreyanka Patil 4/12) vs Royal Challengers Bangalore.
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