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- DC vs RCB, WPL 2025 Highlights: Smriti Mandhana's blazing 81 powers RCB to dominant eight-wicket win over Delhi Capitals
DC vs RCB, WPL 2025 Highlights: Smriti Mandhana's blazing 81 powers RCB to dominant eight-wicket win over Delhi Capitals
After RCB’s bowlers, led by Renuka Singh (3/23) and Georgia Wareham (3/25), restricted Delhi to 141 in 19.3 overs, Mandhana and Danni Wyatt-Hodge (42 off 33; 7x4) ensured the chase was a mere formality.
The duo forged a match-winning 107-run opening stand in just 55 balls, dismantling Delhi’s bowling attack with ease. Richa Ghosh (11* off 5) finished the chase in style with a six as RCB wrapped up the game in 16.2 overs.
Mandhana was in imperious form, striking 10 boundaries and three sixes, treating the crowd to her signature sweeps, elegant inside-out drives, and a towering pull over deep mid-wicket off Marizanne Kapp. She raced to her fastest fifty of the tournament in just 27 balls, setting the perfect platform for a dominant chase.
Danni Wyatt provided solid support, maintaining the tempo with well-timed strokes. She had a stroke of luck when Jemimah Rodrigues dropped a sitter at long-off when she was on 34, but it made little difference as RCB stormed to 50 in just five overs, ensuring Delhi had no way back.
Mandhana’s early statement of intent came with a towering six off Arundhati Reddy over long-off, followed by back-to-back boundaries off Shikha Pandey, dismantling the Capitals’ bowling attack.
RCB’s decision to bowl first proved crucial, as dew made gripping the ball difficult for Delhi’s bowlers, further easing the chase for the Bengaluru batters.
With this emphatic win, RCB showcased their all-round dominance, maintaining their perfect start to the season with two wins in two games.
Kim Garth to Meg Lanning, Serves it full and well wide of off. Lanning gets on her knee to drive but misses it.
Kim Garth to Meg Lanning, An appeal for LBW but just going down! A good length ball on middle and nips in. Lanning looks to flick but misses and gets hit on the pads. The replay shows it's going well down the leg side.
It will be Kim Garth to steam in from the other end.
- Jemimah Rodrigues 0 (4)
- Meg Lanning 1 (1)
Renuka Singh Thakur to Jemimah Rodrigues, Finally the over comes to an end! Bowls it full and tight on the off pole. Jemimah Rodrigues defends on the off side.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh Thakur is not able to get the line right! Once again swing on offer but tails it down the leg side. Jemimah Rodrigues doesn't connect as the ball brushes her pads.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Jemimah Rodrigues, Huge appeal for LBW but turned down! Bengaluru take it upstairs. A sharp inswinger from Thakur, this one lands outside off and swings in. Jemimah Rodrigues plants her front foot across to flick but misses and gets hit on the pads. Richa Ghosh, the keeper is keen to challenge the decision. UltraEdge shows no bat. Ball Tracking shows the wickets are hitting the stumps but the impact is umpire's call. Jemimah Rodrigues survives.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Jemimah Rodrigues, Wide! Some swing on offer but Renuka Singh Thakur serves it well down the leg side. Jemimah Rodrigues misses her clip.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Jemimah Rodrigues, BEATEN! Renuka Singh Thakur keeps it full and bowls in the driving channel, this is outside off and Jemimah Rodrigues fails to drive it away.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Jemimah Rodrigues, Wide! Serves it full but shaping down the leg side. Jemimah Rodrigues fails to flick it away. Wided.
Jemimah Rodrigues walks in at number 3.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Shafali Verma, OUT! TAKEN! Shafali Verma goes! No fireworks from her weapon today! Brilliant start by Bengaluru! Renuka Singh Thakur goes full and bowls it around off, Verma tries to loft it over mid off but toe ends her shot straight in the hands of Smriti Mandhana who takes a dolly.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Meg Lanning, Delhi are underway! A good length ball from Renuka Singh Thakur from wide of the crease, this is on off, Lanning drops it to covers for a sharp single.
We are all set for the action to commence. The two umpires make their way out to the middle, followed by Smriti Mandhana and Co. Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma stride out to open the innings for Delhi. Renuka Singh Thakur has the new ball in hand for Bengaluru. Renuka to Lanning first up. Surprisingly, there is no slip in place. The countdown is done. Let's play...
In case you were wondering how Delhi are able to field five overseas players, it's due to the rule in the Women's T20 League that permits teams to do so if one of them is from an Associate nation. In Delhi's case, that player is Sarah Bryce, the Scottish wicketkeeper-batter.
The captain of Delhi, Meg Lanning says that they would have bowled first as well. Feels that the wicket stays pretty similar throughout the game and hopes that they can do well with the bat first up. Mentions that she is happy with the way they were able to hold their nerve and get over the line in the last game. Shares that they had a full squad to choose from for this game and informs that Marizanne Kapp and Jess Jonassen come in. Adds that Alice Capsey and Niki Prasad are the ones missing out.
The captain of Bengaluru, Smriti Mandhana says they would like to field first as the dew has been a big factor in the last few games. She says she was pleased with the effort from their players in the last match. Mentions they had a couple of practice sessions. Admits it's important to start the tournament well. Informs that Ekta Bisht comes in for Prema Rawat.
Bengaluru (Playing XI) - Smriti Mandhana (C), Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Ellyse Perry, Raghvi Bist, Richa Ghosh (WK), Kanika Ahuja, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth, Ekta Bisht (In for Prema Rawat), Joshitha V J, Renuka Singh Thakur.
Delhi (Playing XI) - Meg Lanning (C), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Annabel Sutherland, Marizanne Kapp (In for Alice Capsey), Jess Jonassen (In for Niki Prasad), Sarah Bryce (WK), Shikha Pandey, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Minnu Mani.
TOSS - Bengaluru have won the toss and they will BOWL first.
Delhi Capitals: Meg Lanning (Captain), Alice Capsey, Sarah Bryce, Annabel Sutherland, Minnu Mani, Shafali Verma, Arundhati Reddy, N Charani, Shikha Pandey, Jemimah Rodrigues, Nandini Kashyap, Sneha Deepthi, Jess Jonassen, Niki Prasad, Taniyaa Bhatia, Marchizanne Kapp, Radha Yadav, Titas Sadhu.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Smriti Mandhana (Captain), Nuzhat Parween, Joshitha Vj, Richa Ghosh, Danni Wyatt, Kanika Ahuja, Sabbineni Meghana, Ekta Bisht, Kim Garth, Shreyanka Patil, Ellyse Perry, Prema Rawat, Georgia Wareham, Raghvi Bist, Heather Graham, Jagravi Pawar, Renuka Singh, Charlie Dean.
However, RCB's batting lineup presents a different level of challenge.
Despite an underwhelming performance against Mumbai, they aim to improve against RCB's less experienced bowling attack.
The team needs additional support from newcomers VJ Joshitha and Prema Rawat to assist the experienced Renuka Singh.
Both Kanika and Bist contributed significantly to the team's victory over GG.
The bowling department requires improvement, and Perry's absence from bowling has affected their capabilities.
The Australian all-rounder is currently recovering from a hip injury sustained during the recent Women's Ashes and will not bowl in the initial WPL matches.
After contrasting victories in their opening matches, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals aim to strengthen their positions in WPL 2025 on Monday. RCB secured a comfortable six-wicket victory against Gujarat Giants, whilst DC emerged victorious in a nail-biting finish against Mumbai Indians.
RCB appear to have a slight advantage due to their well-balanced batting and bowling departments.
The team's batting prowess was evident as they successfully chased a target exceeding 200 under Smriti Mandhana's leadership.
Match Statistics
Venue
BCA Stadium, Vadodara
