Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) started their Women’s Premier League (WPL) match against Delhi Capitals (DC) at Vadodara with an eight-wicket victory on the back of outstanding performances from Renuka Singh, Georgia Wareham, and captain Smriti Mandhana. This performance drew high praise from former Indian captain Mithali Raj, who noted that from the very first over, RCB had the game in control. After this win, RCB has two wins in two matches and tops the table, while DC settled into the third spot with a win and loss each.
Raj, speaking on JioHotstar, said: “Right from the first over when Renuka Singh got Shafali Varma out, RCB took control of the game. After that, Smriti Mandhana did not put a foot wrong. Every bowling change made by the captain Edwards brought success. The way she led the innings along with Danni Wyatt gave them a great platform for their batting line-up.”
RCB went off to a perfect start after winning the toss and opting to bowl first when the dangerous Shafali Varma offered a simple catch to Smriti Mandhana at mid-off off the very first ball of the innings, bowled by Renuka Singh.
After this early blow, Jemimah Rodrigues joined her skipper Meg Lanning for a rebuild, where she quickly pressed the accelerator against Ekta Bisht and Joshitha, collecting some fours and sixes.
DC crossed the 50-mark in 5.4 overs with Rodrigues hitting a six.
The 60-run partnership was broken as Georgia Wareham had Jemimah stumped by Richa Ghosh for 34 off 22 balls with two sixes and four boundaries. DC was at 60/2 in 6.5 overs. Kim Garth also got Lanning out for 17 off 19 balls with three fours. DC were 62/3 in 7.3 overs.
Annabel Sutherland and Marizanne Kapp put the ball to rest with a score of 83/3 in the 10th over, with Sutherland (19) and Kapp (4) not out. Unfortunately, after Sutherland fell for 19 runs in 13 balls to Renuka with Smriti making a good catch at extra cover, the downhill ride that DC had not planned hit it hard. DC was restricted to 84 for 4 after 10.2 overs.
Still, the runs kept coming with no substantial partnerships as Sarah Bryce (23. In 19 balls with 2 fours) and Shikha Pandey (14. In 15 balls with 1 four) put on a decent fight.
The DC batting line-up was ripped to shreds byWareham, Garth Renuka, and Ekta Bisht, who rolled out the remaining members for a mere 141 runs in 19.3 overs.
Renuka (3/23) and Wareham (3/25) were the undoubted highlights for RCB as they ran through DC with a perfect mix of pace and spin. Garth (2/19) and Bisht (2/35) also played good supporting roles.
The run-chase of 142 runs was given a fine start by the openers, skipper Smriti Mandhana and Danni Wyatt Hodge.
Mandhana set the tone for the innings with a couple of boundaries against Kapp in the opening over, followed by Minnu Mani in the third over.
Hodge picked up with the powerplay ending, hitting Shikha Pandey for two fours. Danni hit a four over short third man to bring the RCB total to 50 after 5.1 overs.
At the end of powerplay, RCB was 57/0, with Mandhana and Danni unbeaten on (32* 22*).
Mandhana maintained the momentum going forward, with boundaries against Jonassen and Sutherland respectively.
The left-hander reached her half-century off just 27 balls with eight fours and a six.
With a well-timed boundary from Danni through deep cover, RCB brought the 100 up in the 10th over.
The 107-run opening partnership between Mandhana and Hodge was broken by Arundhati by dismissing Wyatt for 42 off 33 balls, including seven fours. Rodrigues had a good catch at deep cover. RCB was 107/1 in 10.5 overs.
When Mandhana’s bat started speaking again after the partnership was broken, she sent RCB to the brink of victory. Jonassen and Sutherland were beaten. Shikha dismissed Mandhana on 81 off 47 balls (with 10 fours and three sixes) due to a catch by Arundhati. RCB was 133/2 in 15.1 overs.
Richa completed things with a six, beating the score of 146/2 in 16.1 overs, with Richa on 11 and Ellyse Perry on seven, not out. Arundhati took one catch, meanwhile, Shikha got one from DC.
With this win, RCB justified their prowess in both bowling and batting, thereby stating their intent to be serious contenders in this tournament.