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- DC vs RCB, WPL Highlights: Delhi Capitals end RCB’s winning streak with commanding 7-wicket victory
DC vs RCB, WPL Highlights: Delhi Capitals end RCB’s winning streak with commanding 7-wicket victory
After choosing to field, Delhi struck early and applied relentless pressure through the middle overs. Smriti Mandhana stood tall for RCB with a well-paced 38 off 34 balls, but found little support from the other end. Grace Harris fell early, and the middle order collapsed as DC’s bowlers mixed pace and length intelligently. Radha Yadav’s brief cameo of 18 was the only other notable contribution as RCB slipped from a steady start to 78 for 5 and were eventually bowled out for 109.
Nandani Sharma was the standout with three wickets, while Kapp, Minnu Mani and Chinelle Henry consistently hit the right areas to choke the scoring. The fielding effort further tightened the screws, ensuring RCB never recovered momentum.
Delhi’s reply was briefly unsettled by the early dismissals of Shafali Verma and Lizelle Lee, but the calm presence of Laura Wolvaardt restored order. The South African batter paced her innings beautifully, remaining unbeaten on 42. Jemimah Rodrigues complemented her with a composed 24 as the pair added 52 runs for the third wicket.
With the target in sight, Marizanne Kapp sealed the win in style, striking the boundary that completed a commanding chase with 26 balls remaining. The result pushed Delhi to second on the points table and breathed fresh life into their season, while RCB were forced to regroup after their first stumble.
Lauren Bell to Lizelle Lee, Fuller and around off, curling away, Lee pushes it defensively towards mid off.
Lauren Bell to Laura Wolvaardt, Outside off, shaping away, tapped down to point for a run.
- Laura Wolvaardt 1 (2)
- Lizelle Lee 1 (2)
Sayali Satghare to Laura Wolvaardt, Sliding down the leg side, on a length, Laura eases it behind square leg and takes a run. Excellent over, 6 runs and a big wicket from it.
Sayali Satghare to Laura Wolvaardt, Short and outside off, played from the back foot to cover-point.
Laura Wolvaardt walks out to bat at number 3.
Sayali Satghare to Shafali Verma, OUT! STUMPED! Sayali has the final word in the duel and RCB remove the danger batter. Length ball outside off, skidding on, Shafali stretches forward to play through the line but misses completely. Richa Ghosh, standing up to the stumps to a pacer, does the rest in a flash and whips the bails off. Shafali's back leg is outside the crease. The square leg umpire has no hesitation. Delhi lose their first after a brisk start and are 17 for 1, chasing a target of 110.
Sayali Satghare to Shafali Verma, FOUR! Up and over and Shafali is in the mood. Short and around off, she picks the length in a trice, stays back and clubs it over mid on. No stopping that one. She looks the danger batter for RCB as the boundaries keep flowing.
Sayali Satghare to Lizelle Lee, Angling it in, on a length around off, Lee steps back and works it off the inner portion of her blade to deep mid-wicket. She opens her account with a single.
Sayali Satghare to Lizelle Lee, Drifting down the leg side, on a length, Lee tries to work it on the leg side but misses and is hit high on the front leg.
Who will share the attack? It will be Sayali Satghare. Also, Richa Ghosh is up to the stumps.
- Shafali Verma 12 (6)
- Lizelle Lee 0 (0)
Lauren Bell to Shafali Verma, FOUR! Three boundaries in the opening over and that sends a clear message from Delhi. Short and around off, Shafali rocks back and thumps it over covers. This one beats the sweeper to her right and races away. A rare off-colour first over from Bell as the Capitals come out swinging. 12 from the first over!
Lauren Bell to Shafali Verma, Swinging away outside off, Shafali Verma slashes and misses.
Lauren Bell to Shafali Verma, Curling in around middle and straightens a touch from a length, Verma covers the line and defends it down.
Lauren Bell to Shafali Verma, FOUR! That is more like it from Shafali. Offered width outside off on a good length, she stays rooted, frees her hands and crunches it past backward point. The sweeper is in place but has no say as it races away.
Lauren Bell to Shafali Verma, Play and a miss! A touch short and outside off, Shafali throws her hands at it only to get beaten.
Lauren Bell to Shafali Verma, FOUR! Delhi Capitals are up and running. Back of a length and outside off, Shafali stays back and guides it square on the off side. Aerial but perfectly placed, threading the gap between short third and backward point.
We are back for the chase! The players are already out in the middle. Shafali Verma and Lizelle Lee are the two openers for Delhi Capitals. So, the word from the middle is that if DC can get these runs inside 18 overs, they will go 2nd in the table with an improved NRR. As expected, Lauren Bell has the new ball in hand, and RCB need her to strike early to make a game out of this one. Here we go...
... THE RUN CHASE ...
The equation is simple, 110 is the target for DC to keep their playoff hopes in their own hands, and with the quality they possess, they will back themselves to get there. However, RCB will not go down without a fight either, as they will not want their unbeaten streak to end in a one-sided defeat. Whatever happens, we are in for some exciting cricket. Join us shortly for the second innings.
Nandni Sharma, the pick of the bowlers, finishing with figures of 4-0-26-3, says she keeps her line and length simple and feels that approach helps her. She explains that the 'salute celebration' is for the DC dugout and for everyone cheering for Delhi. She shares that she works hard on the slower deliveries from the back of the hand. She also notes that her balls were skidding on more than others initially, but adds that Jemimah Rodrigues and Marizanne Kapp guided her on how to bowl effectively on this surface.
DC will be really pleased with this performance, and it has come at a crucial time for them. Kapp set the tone early, but after that they went through a phase where wickets did not come, even though the runs were kept in check. Once Minnu Mani removed the RCB skipper, it turned into a procession. Charani and her fellow spinners tightened the screws in the middle overs, while Kapp added another to her tally. Henry was impressive on her return as well, picking up a couple of wickets, but it was Nandini Sharma who stood out, finishing with 3/26 and reclaiming the Purple Cap.
Despite losing Harris early, RCB made a steady start, with Smriti leading from the front and looking well set as they reached the first break at 62/1. However, soon after, Smriti tried to up the tempo and ended up holing out for 38 off 34, and from there it all went downhill for the unbeaten side in the tournament. The middle order failed to get going, and the lower order was tested for the first time as well, but they could not make any real impact either. Radha Yadav's efforts in the middle only helped them cross the three-figure mark, but that still looks well below par.
DC seem to be enjoying the conditions in Vadodara. After holding MI to 154/5 in their previous game, they have now bowled RCB out to their lowest-ever WPL total, by a fair margin, with their earlier lowest being 125. From the toss to every bowling move, everything worked perfectly for Jemimah Rodrigues, while RCB endured a night to forget with the bat and will be keen to put this behind them.
- Sayali Satghare 3 (5)
- Lauren Bell 1 (1)
Nandni Sharma to Sayali Satghare, OUT! BOWLED! The back-of-the-hand slower one does the trick. It is on a length around off, Sayali goes down for the slog but is far too early into the shot. The ball arrives late, sneaks right through, and crashes into the stumps. RCB are bowled out for 109 on the final ball of the innings. Nandini celebrates with a crisp salute, job well done, 3/26 in her 4 overs.
Nandni Sharma to Lauren Bell, Very full and on middle, it's knocked down to long on for a run.
Lauren Bell is the last batter in.
Nandni Sharma to Shreyanka Patil, OUT! CAUGHT! Nandni Sharma takes the pace off and serves it short and wide outside off. Patil stays back looking to slap it over point but only finds the outside edge. Shafali is alert at short third, does the rest neatly, and RCB slip to 108 for 9. Sharma has the Purple Cap now.
Nandni Sharma to Shreyanka Patil, FOUR! Much-needed runs for RCB. Length delivery around off, Patil gets creative, switches the bat face and lifts it over short third. Risky, inventive and effective, the boundary brings a bit of release.
Nandni Sharma to Sayali Satghare, Slower one, on a length, outside off, Sayali eases it down to mid on for one.
Nandni Sharma to Shreyanka Patil, Pitches it up and around off, Patil strokes it to extra cover. The fielder tumbles to make the stop and the batters cross for a hesitant single.
Last over coming up now. Can Nandni Sharma keep RCB under 110 runs?
- Shreyanka Patil 2 (4)
- Sayali Satghare 2 (3)
Chinelle Henry to Shreyanka Patil, A bit short and on off, it's heaved to deep mid-wicket for a run. 4-0-22-2, it's a great return to the team for Henry.
Chinelle Henry to Sayali Satghare, Dishes out a length ball outside off, Sayali drives it to extra cover and the mid-off fielder runs across to her left. They take one.
Chinelle Henry to Shreyanka Patil, 100 up for RCB, in the 19th over. Short and on off, this time Patil connects with the pull shot and sends it to deep mid-wicket for a run.
Chinelle Henry to Shreyanka Patil, Play and a miss. Short in length and outside off, Patil is early with her attempted pull shot as the ball arrives late. She misses and gets beaten. The ball is holding up quite a bit off the surface.
Chinelle Henry to Shreyanka Patil, Angles in a length ball on off, Patil gets behind the line and pushes it to mid on.
RCB are in danger of not playing their full quota of 20 overs here. Shreyanka Patil comes out to the middle now.
Who will bowl the 19th? It will be Henry only.
Chinelle Henry to Nadine De Klerk, OUT! CAUGHT! It is unravelling rapidly for RCB. Henry rolls her fingers over a slower one, full and outside off. Nadine De Klerk stays back, looking to launch it straight, but only manages a top edge. The ball balloons towards mid off, where Jemimah Rodrigues settles comfortably underneath it. RCB slump to 99 for 8.
- Sayali Satghare 1 (2)
- Nadine De Klerk 5 (8)
Nandni Sharma to Sayali Satghare, Fullish and on off, Sayali drives it down to mid off. Dot ball.
Nandni Sharma to Nadine De Klerk, Serves it on a good length, around middle, Nadine De Klerk pushes it to covers and takes a quick run.
Nandni Sharma to Sayali Satghare, On off, knocked down to long on for one.
We are into the tail now. Sayali Satghare walks out to bat for the first time this season.
Nandni Sharma to Arundhati Reddy, OUT! LBW! The wickets keep tumbling, and RCB are now seven down. It is full again, slower through the air and dipping into the leg stump line. Reddy goes down for the sweep, misses completely and is struck on the front pad. A loud appeal follows, and the finger goes up. Time for DRS. UltraEdge shows no bat, and Ball Tracking confirms it has pitched in line with impact in line. It is the umpire's call on hitting the stumps, so the on-field decision stays. Delhi are absolutely delighted.
Nandni Sharma to Nadine De Klerk, Full toss on middle, swept away to deep square leg for one.
Nandni Sharma to Arundhati Reddy, Nandni begins with a short ball outside off, curling away, Reddy punches it to deep cover for a run.
Change? Yes, Nandni Sharma (2-0-16-0) is back on.
- Arundhati Reddy 1 (3)
- Nadine De Klerk 3 (6)
Chinelle Henry to Arundhati Reddy, Short again, pulled down to long on for one. 3 runs and a wicket from the over.
Chinelle Henry to Arundhati Reddy, Back of a length, around off, Arundhati Reddy punches but finds the cover fielder who stops it with a dive.
Chinelle Henry to Arundhati Reddy, Very full and wide outside off, Reddy tries to dig it out but misses.
Opting to field first, Delhi’s bowlers set the tone early and never let RCB settle. Apart from captain Smriti Mandhana’s fluent 38, the RCB batting line-up struggled badly against disciplined bowling and sharp fielding. Eight batters were dismissed for single-digit scores as RCB were bowled out for just 109 in 20 overs. Nandani Sharma led the attack with three wickets, while Marizanne Kapp, Minnu Mani and Chinelle Henry chipped in with two wickets each.
Delhi’s chase began on a shaky note as Shafali Verma and Lizelle Lee fell inside the powerplay, reducing DC to 24 for 2. However, Laura Wolvaardt and captain Jemimah Rodrigues calmly rebuilt the innings with a decisive third-wicket partnership. Wolvaardt anchored the chase with an unbeaten 42, while Rodrigues played a composed knock of 24 to guide DC close to the target.
Marizanne Kapp finished the job with an unbeaten 19 as Delhi reached 111 for 3 with more than four overs to spare. The win lifted DC to second place on the table with six points, while RCB remained on top despite the setback.
Match Statistics
Venue
BCA Stadium, Vadodara
