That's all from today's game! A convincing victory for Delhi as they make their way into the play-offs of the Women's T20 League. We now have a day's break but the Women's T20 League action continues on Monday, the 3rd of March. We have a game lined up between Up and Gujarat at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). Join us early for the pre-match buildup and live coverage of the game. Until then, take care, and cheers!
Shafali Verma is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH! She starts saying that she feels good to win it for the team and also expresses her happiness. Continues that she felt the momentum early on in the inning so she just had to calm herself down and get set on the crease. Also says that their focus was on rotating the strike and go big for the loose deliveries. Ends up saying that it would have been difficult for them if the target would crossed 170 but she was happy to get the target on the plate.
Meg Lanning the skipper of Delhi, says that she is happy with the performance of the girls. She continues that they need to work hard with their fielding. She also says that they have come back and they will look to carry it forward. Continues that the the energy is the same from last night and also shares that they had a great mindset today. Ends up saying they knew that they had to beat Bengaluru to step their foot off the line.
... THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY ...
Jess Jonassen credited her successful innings to the left-hand-right-hand combination with Shafali Verma, which disrupted the Bengaluru's bowlers' rhythm. Jonassen praised Verma's exceptional ball-striking and strategic play, and acknowledged the team's growing momentum. She also commended debutant Charani's impressive control.
Smriti Mandhana, the skipper of Bengaluru, acknowledges Perry's excellent batting. She praised Raghvi Bist's promotion and Renuka Singh's Powerplay performances. She appreciated fan support, apologized for not securing wins, and vowed to return stronger after their week-long break.
Earlier in the game, Bengaluru posted 147/5 in 20 overs against Delhi. They were off to a rocky start as they lost their skipper early on but gained momentum after that. Ellyse Perry's unbeaten 60 and Raghvi Bist's 33 propelled Bengaluru, despite Delhi's bowlers restricting the scoring rate. Shikha Pandey, N Charani, and Marizanne Kapp shared the wickets for Delhi.
Jess Jonassen, in particular, continues to thrive in her new role at the top order, registering her second half-century. Her impressive form has been a significant factor in Delhi's success. Bengaluru's bowlers, on the other hand, were left reeling, with Renuka Singh Thakur being the only one to claim a wicket, that of Meg Lanning. They failed to contain Delhi's batting onslaught which ultimately led to their demise.
DELHI MAKE IT TO THE NEXT ROUND! They're one step closer to the title! A dominant batting display from the Delhi batters as they effortlessly chased down a target of 148 runs! Despite losing skipper Meg Lanning early, Shafali Verma and Jess Jonassen took charge, unleashing a barrage of runs against the Bengaluru bowlers. The duo's relentless pressure never allowed the opposition to settle, with both players notching half-centuries to take their team to a convincing victory.
Sneh Rana to Shafali Verma, Four!FOUR! Shafali Verma finishes off with style! Sneh Rana bowls a juicy full toss on leg. Shafali Verma gets down on her one knee and sweeps it over the fielder of the fine leg region to add up four more runs in her tally. Delhi wins the match-up by 9 wickets!
Sneh Rana to Shafali Verma, No run.Short, outside off. Shafali Verma cuts but fails to penetrate the cover fielder.
Sneh Rana to Shafali Verma, Six!SIX! BOOM! The score's even! Sneh Rana bowls it fuller, on off. Shafali Verma comes down the track and swats it up and over deep mid-wicket fence for half a dozen.
Raghvi Bist to Jess Jonassen, Four!FOUR! Another boundary to the highlight of Jess Jonassen! Slower delivery, fuller outside off. Jess Jonassen slaps it over the cover region and the ball rolls away toward sweeper cover fence for one more boundary.
Raghvi Bist to Jess Jonassen, No run.On a length, wide outside off. Jess Jonassen cuts it wide outside off. Renuka Singh Thakur makes a diving stop. Some commitment in the fielder from Thakur!
Raghvi Bist to Shafali Verma, 1 run.Full and on middle. Shafali Verma flicks it toward deep mid-wicket for one.
Raghvi Bist to Jess Jonassen, 1 run.Short of a length, just outside off. Jess Jonassen punches it toward long on for one.
Raghvi Bist to Shafali Verma, 1 run.Back of a length, on stumps. Shafali Verma punches it toward long on for one.
Raghvi Bist to Shafali Verma, Four!FOUR! TOP SHOT! Short, and outside off. Shafali Verma rocks back an slices it late to guide the delivery past toward left of the short third fielder. The ball rolls away toward third man fence for a boundary.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Shafali Verma, 1 run.On a length, on off. Shafali Verma pushes it toward long on for one.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Shafali Verma, Four!FOUR! Boundaries are coming thick and fast for Delhi! Fuller, sprays it down the leg. Shafali Verma sweeps it. The ball connects the inner edge and rolls toward deep fine leg for a single.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Jess Jonassen, 1 run.Fuller, outside leg. Jess Jonassen comes down the track and flicks it toward deep fine for a single.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Shafali Verma, 1 run.Short, on leg. Shafali Verma pulls it toward deep square leg for one.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Shafali Verma, Six!SIX! Ellyse Perry has dropped it! This one is fuller, on off. Shafali Verma lofts it just short of the deep mid-wicket fence. Ellyse Perry jogs to the front of the skier and then tracks back. She makes an attempt but the ball pouches off her hands to over the fence.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Jess Jonassen, 1 run.Fuller, on off. Jess Jonassen pulls it gently to keep continuing the single.
Georgia Wareham to Jess Jonassen, 1 run.Tossed up, fuller, on off. Jess Jonassen comes down the track and nudges it toward square leg to get a single.
Georgia Wareham to Shafali Verma, 1 run.Short, on leg. Shafali Verma pulls it toward fine leg.
Georgia Wareham to Jess Jonassen, 1 run.Drags her length back, once again. Jess Jonassen cuts it toward deep cover-point for one.
Georgia Wareham to Shafali Verma, 1 run.Short, on middle. Shafali Verma pulls it toward deep mid-wicket for a single.
Georgia Wareham to Shafali Verma, No run.Short, on middle. Shafali Verma clears the front foot but ends up blocking it down.
Georgia Wareham to Shafali Verma, Six!SIX! FIFTY FOR Shafali Verma! She is in a hurry to wrap the game! The first half-century for Verma! Fuller, on off. Shafali Verma lofts it over sweeper cover fence for half a dozen.
Kim Garth to Shafali Verma, 1 run.In air... safe! Fuller, outside off. Shafali Verma looks to hoist it over the cover region but gets the connection from the outer part of her willow. The ball loops toward right of the backward point. The batters gets a single.
Kim Garth to Shafali Verma, No run.Slower now, fuller outside off and nips it away from the batter. Shafali Verma goes for a loft toward downtown but gets beaten on the outer edge.
Kim Garth to Jess Jonassen, 1 run.Full and on stumps. Jess Jonassen drives it toward long on for a single.
Kim Garth to Jess Jonassen, Four!FOUR! FIFTY FOR Jess Jonassen! The left-right combinations have really worked for Delhi! Kim Garth bowls it fuller, on middle. Jess Jonassen covers the stump and flicks it a bit late to place the delivery far left from the deep fine leg fielder for another boundary in her account.
Kim Garth to Shafali Verma, 1 run.Fuller, on off. Shafali Verma lofts it toward long on for a single.
Kim Garth to Jess Jonassen, 1 run.Slower and fuller, outside off. Jess Jonassen shuffles across the stump and works it across the ground toward square leg for one.
Ekta Bisht to Jess Jonassen, 1 run.Fullish, on leg. Jess Jonassen flicks it toward square leg and crosses for a single.
Ekta Bisht to Shafali Verma, 1 run.Fuller, on stumps. Shafali Verma knocks it toward lond on for one.
Ekta Bisht to Shafali Verma, Six!SIX! BOOM! Both the batters are set in the middle and nothing is working for the Bangaluru bowlers to hunt them down! Fuller, outside off. Shafali Verma charges down the track and lashes it up and over everything to sail it over sweeper cover fence for a biggie.
Ekta Bisht to Jess Jonassen, 1 run.Short, on stumps. Jess Jonassen pulls it toward deep mid-wicket for a single.
Ekta Bisht to Jess Jonassen, No run.Slower through the air, short, on middle and leg. Jess Jonassen clips it toward mid-wicket.
Ekta Bisht to Jess Jonassen, Six!SIX! Up, up and away! Tossed it up, fuller on middle. Jess Jonassen once again comes off her crease and launches it toward downtown for half a dozen.
Ellyse Perry to Jess Jonassen, 1 run.Fuller, on middle. Jess Jonassen flick it from the inner part of her willow toward square leg for one.
Ellyse Perry to Jess Jonassen, Four!FOUR! Three boundaries already from the over and still a ball to go! Short of a length, on leg. Jess Jonassen hammers it toward far right of the deep fine leg fielder for a boundary. Absolutely no chance for the fielder at the deep to chase that.
Ellyse Perry to Jess Jonassen, Four!FOUR! Excellency flickering from the shot of Jess Jonassen! Fuller, on leg. Jess Jonassen comes dancing down the track and uses her bottom hand to loft it over the bowler. The ball bounces off toward long on fence and gets four more runs.
Ellyse Perry to Shafali Verma, 1 run.On a length, outside off. Shafali Verma lofts it toward the front of the sweeper cover for a single.
Ellyse Perry to Jess Jonassen, 1 run.Fuller, on leg. Jess Jonassen nudges it toward square leg and crosses for a single.
Ellyse Perry to Jess Jonassen, Four!FOUR! Wrong line of length from Ellyse Perry and Jess Jonassen punishes it well! Fuller, just outside off to the left hander. Jess Jonassen tickles it away toward deep fine leg for a boundary.
Georgia Wareham to Jess Jonassen, 1 run.Short, on leg. Jess Jonassen makes a bit room and knocks it toward long off for one.
Georgia Wareham to Shafali Verma, 1 run.Short, just outside off. Shafali Verma cuts it toward deep point for one. Jess Jonassen wants a double but Shafali Verma rejects the offer.
Georgia Wareham to Jess Jonassen, 1 run.Tossed up, on middle. Jess Jonassen drives it toward long off for one.
Georgia Wareham to Shafali Verma, 1 run.Right in the slot, outside off. Shafali Verma crouches and slices it toward sweeper cover for one.
Georgia Wareham to Shafali Verma, No run.Short, on off. Shafali Verma tries to cut but inner edges and the ball rolls toward short third man for no run.
Georgia Wareham to Shafali Verma, 2 runs.Flatter and fuller, outside off. Shafali Verma prods and lofts it wide right of the sweeper fielder to get a brace.
Sneh Rana to Shafali Verma, 1 run.Fuller on stump. Shafali Verma once again charges the delivery and punches it toward mid-wicket for one.
Sneh Rana to Jess Jonassen, 1 run.Short, on leg. Jess Jonassen comes down the track and tucks it toward mid-wicket for another single.
Sneh Rana to Shafali Verma, 1 run.Tossed up, on leg. Shafali Verma flicks it toward deep mid-wicket for one.
Sneh Rana to Jess Jonassen, 1 run.Fuller on leg. Jess Jonassen works it toward long on for one.
Sneh Rana to Jess Jonassen, Four!FOUR! Another boundary for Jess Jonassen! Tossed up, fuller on off. Jess Jonassen crouches low and slog sweeps it wide of the deep mid-wicket fielder for four runs.
Sneh Rana to Jess Jonassen, Four!FOUR! Jess Jonassen greets well to Sneh Rana! Bowls touch fuller on leg stump. Jess Jonassen pulls it hard toward deep square leg for a boundary.
Georgia Wareham to Jess Jonassen, 1 run.Short, on stump. Jess Jonassen eases it toward long off for one.
Georgia Wareham to Jess Jonassen, 4 Byes.FOUR BYES! Yorker, just outside off Jess Jonassen looks to dig but misses. Richa Ghosh misses to glove it behind the stump and the ball rolls away for four runs.
Georgia Wareham to Jess Jonassen, 2 runs.Excellent work at the deep! Short of a length, on stump. Jess Jonassen pulls it toward far right of wide long on fielder. Ellyse Perry sprints hard and makes a dive to keep it inside the ground. Double taken in between.
Georgia Wareham to Shafali Verma, 1 run.That could have been a runout! A very risky run from the Delhi batters! Georgia Wareham bowls it short, outside off. Shafali Verma cuts it toward the front of the point fielder and calls for a single. The fielder messes it up as the throw toward the non-stiker's end is way away from the stump.
Georgia Wareham to Jess Jonassen, 1 run.Short, on leg and middle. Jess Jonassen pulls it toward right of the short mid-wicket fielder and gets a single.
Georgia Wareham to Jess Jonassen, No run.Short, on leg. Jess Jonassen rocks back and eases it back to the bowler.
Time out! A contrasting powerplay for Delhi, with Renuka Singh Thakur and Kim Garth restricting them to 5 runs in the first 3 overs, including Meg Lanning's wicket. However, Shafali Verma's explosive 27 off 16 balls turned the tide, yielding 35 runs in the next 3 overs. Delhi require 107 more runs to win from 84 balls.
Ellyse Perry to Jess Jonassen, Leg bye.Length, down leg, Jonassen looks to flick it but hits her pads. They cross for a leg bye.
Ellyse Perry to Jess Jonassen, No run.Length, on off, Jonassen blocks it to mid off.
Ellyse Perry to Jess Jonassen, Four!FOUR! Shot! Short, on middle, Jonassen hangs back and pulls it powerfully over square leg for a boundary.
Ellyse Perry to Shafali Verma, 1 run.On a length, on off, Verma taps it to point for one.
Ellyse Perry to Shafali Verma, Four!FOUR! The fourth boundary of the Shafali Verma! She is feeling it tonight! Fuller delivery on pad. Shafali Verma flicks it past the fine leg fielder and gets four more runs added into her account.
Ellyse Perry to Shafali Verma, No run.Short, outside off. Shafali Verma attempts to lash it over the cover region but misses on the outer edge.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Shafali Verma, 1 run.Full, around off. Shafali Verma lofts it over the head of the bowler. The connection isn't form the middle of the willow, therefore the ball loops toward the front of the long on fielder for a single.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Shafali Verma, 2 runs.On a length, on off. Shafali Verma chips it cover cover for a couple.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Shafali Verma, No run.Back of a length, outside off. Shafali Verma looks to slice it but gets beaten on the outer edge.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Shafali Verma, No run.Fuller, on middle and leg, nips it in. Shafali Verma looks to flick but misses and hits on her pad. Appeal for LBW but it's clearly missing down the leg.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Shafali Verma, Four!FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries from Shafali Verma! Full, on middle Shafali Verma shuffles across the stump and whips it over square leg to get another boundary.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Shafali Verma, Four!FOUR! Shafali Verma is on fire! Renuka Singh Thakur bowls it fuller, just outside off. Shafali Verma uses her bottom and lofts it over the cover region for four more runs.
Kim Garth to Jess Jonassen, Four!FOUR! HAMMERED! Back of a length, on leg. Jess Jonassen goes for a pull and middles it toward deep square leg fence for a boundary.
Kim Garth to Jess Jonassen, No run.Pitches it up, once again outside leg. Jess Jonassen charges the delivery to slog but fails to connect.
Kim Garth to Jess Jonassen, No run.Fuller, outside leg. Jess Jonassen looks to flick but misses and wears on her pad.
Kim Garth to Shafali Verma, 1 run.Full, on off. Shafali Verma flicks it toward mid-wicket for one.
Kim Garth to Shafali Verma, Four!FOUR! GLORIOUS! Fuller now, just outside off. Shafali Verma hangs back, waits for the delivery to arrive and opens the face of her bat to steer it toward deep backward point fence for a boundary.
Kim Garth to Shafali Verma, Four!FOUR! Not clean from the willow but Shafali Verma will take it anyway! Short of a length, on middle and leg. Shafali Verma once again comes down the track and looks to pull but gets the top edge. The ball sails over the fine leg fielder and rolls away for four runs.
Kim Garth to Shafali Verma, Wide!WIDE! On a length, down the leg. Shafali Verma charges the delivery to flick it but misses.
Kim Garth to Shafali Verma, Wide!WIDE! Fuller, but sprays it down the leg.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Jess Jonassen, No run.On a length, on middle. Jess Jonassen clears the front leg and punches it toward cover.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Jess Jonassen, No run.Fullish, on off and middle. Jess Jonassen punches it toward the left of the bowler.
Jess Jonassen walks up to the middle.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Meg Lanning, OUT! c Ellyse Perry b Renuka Singh Thakur.OUT! TAKEN! Renuka Singh Thakur makes the first breakthrough! Bowls it fuller, on off and middle, angling in once again toward the batter. Meg Lanning this times attempts to go for a loft over the mid on fielder but fails to get the desired connection. The ball flies like an arrow over the head of the the mid on fielder and Ellyse Perry leaps to her fullest to catch that one safe into her hands.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Meg Lanning, No run.Fuller, on middle and leg, shapes it in. Meg Lanning once again misses the flick onto her pad.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Meg Lanning, No run.Appeal for LBW but umpire remains unmoved! Renuka Singh Thakur seems confident with the appeal and the skipper, Smriti Mandhana has taken the review! Back of a length, outside off, angling it in vigorously. Meg Lanning with no footwork looks to nudge it but misses and wears it on the pad. The Ball Tracking shows it's as umpire's call.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Meg Lanning, No run.Hard-length delivery, in the channel. Meg Lanning hangs back and punches it outside off.
Kim Garth to Shafali Verma, No run.Slower bounder, outside off. Shafali Verma attempts to upper cut but misses on the outer edge.
Kim Garth to Meg Lanning, 1 run.On a length, outside off. Meg Lanning guides it toward backward point and crosses for one.
Kim Garth to Meg Lanning, No run.Short, on off. Meg Lanning pushes it outside off.
Kim Garth to Meg Lanning, No run.Back of a length, just outside off. Meg Lanning looks to cut but gets a thick inner edge to the front foot the keeper.
Kim Garth to Shafali Verma, 1 run.Pitches it up, just outside off. Shafali Verma drills it toward the left of the extra cover but the fielder dives and makes a stop. Single taken in between.
Kim Garth to Shafali Verma, No run.Back of a length, on off. Shafali Verma blocks it from the crease.