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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.
Minnu Mani to Gautami Naik, Gets on the front foot and drives it to long off for a run.
Minnu Mani to Gautami Naik, Full and around middle, helped to mid-wicket.
Smriti Mandhana falls right after the break. That brings Gautami Naik out to the middle.
Minnu Mani to Smriti Mandhana, OUT! CAUGHT! A massive breakthrough for the Delhi Capitals, and once again, Smriti Mandhana's uneasy relationship with off spin makes an appearance. It is full and tossed up around leg, Mandhana goes down for the slog sweep but gets it off the inner half. The ball is dragged aerially towards deep square leg, where Niki Prasad does brilliantly to get low and complete the catch. Mandhana departs for 38 off 34 balls, and RCB are 62 for 2.
Minnu Mani to Georgia Voll, Volls fetches a full ball from around off and sweeps it in front of square on the leg side. Easy single as the fielder in the deep cuts it off.
Strategic Break! It's not like RCB have scored at a very high rate, but the good thing for them is that they have lost only one wicket, and Smriti Mandhana is still out there looking well set. We all know how quickly she can change gears, and the power-hitters are yet to come for them, so they will be eying a big total here. DC will also not be too unhappy as they have bowled well, but it will be important for their spinners to control the middle overs. Also, Minnu Mani is to bowl after the break.
- Georgia Voll 7 (9)
- Smriti Mandhana 38 (33)
Nandni Sharma to Georgia Voll, Sliding down the leg side, Voll inside-edges her attempted flick to short fine and takes a quick run. There is a direct hit at the keeper's end but nothing doing. Smrit has made it.
Nandni Sharma to Smriti Mandhana, Ugly hoick. Full and on middle, Smriti goes for a heave-ho across the line but mistimes it aerially towards mid-wicket. It drops safely in the deep and they cross.
Nandni Sharma to Smriti Mandhana, Flatter and shorter outside off, Smriti pushes it with an angled bat to point.
Nandni Sharma to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! Timing and placement, pure class from Smriti. It is full and slower around off, Mandhana leans into the drive and simply caresses it through extra cover. The outfield takes care of the rest. Smriti Mandhana moves to 37.
Nandni Sharma to Georgia Voll, Eases a full ball towards extra cover and takes a quick run.
Nandni Sharma to Georgia Voll, Angling down the leg side, on a length, Voll tries to flick but misses and it goes off her pads to covers.
- Smriti Mandhana 33 (30)
- Georgia Voll 5 (6)
Sneh Rana to Smriti Mandhana, SIX! Just enough to beat the deep fielder. Full and flighted around leg, Smriti puts on the dancing shoes and powers it over long on. The fielder leaps at the rope, but it sails over her fingertips. Fifty up for RCB!
Sneh Rana to Georgia Voll, Flatter and fuller, around off, forced down to long on for a run.
Sneh Rana to Georgia Voll, Tossed up, around off, Voll goes down to sweep but mistimes it off the inner half to her pads.
Sneh Rana to Smriti Mandhana, Straighter in line, tossed up, Mandhana flicks it to deep mid-wicket and keeps the strike rotating.
Sneh Rana to Georgia Voll, Fullish and on off, pumped down to long on for a run.
Sneh Rana to Smriti Mandhana, Too full and on off, Smriti strokes it down the ground, towards long off and takes a single.
Will Marizanne Kapp bowl out? No, Jemimah Rodrigues is saving her last over. So, spin from both ends now as Sneh Rana comes into the attack.
- Smriti Mandhana 25 (27)
- Georgia Voll 3 (3)
Sree Charani to Smriti Mandhana, Just over the bowler. Floated one, full and around off, Mandhana walks forward, checks her drive and chips it straight back. It flies over the leaping bowler and goes to long off, for a run. Only 5 from Charani's first over.
Sree Charani to Georgia Voll, Drifting down the leg side, Voll clips it towards short fine and pinches a single.
Sree Charani to Smriti Mandhana, Flatter and on off, Mandhana eases it down to long on and rotates the strike.
Sree Charani to Georgia Voll, Charani drops it short again, around off, Voll camps back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket, for a run.
Sree Charani to Smriti Mandhana, Appeal for a run out! This one is fired in quicker, short and close to off, Mandhana rocks back and nudges it to the left of extra cover. She sets off in a flash, and there is a direct hit at the bowler's end. Big shout, upstairs it goes, but Smriti is home and safe.
Sree Charani to Smriti Mandhana, Short in length and around off, Mandhana rocks back to punch but finds the fielder at covers.
Can Marizanne Kapp finish the Powerplay well?
- Smriti Mandhana 22 (23)
- Georgia Voll 1 (1)
Marizanne Kapp to Smriti Mandhana, On a length and around off, Mandhana taps it down to covers for one. End of Powerplay, RCB are 39/1.
Marizanne Kapp to Smriti Mandhana, Wide! Sliding down the leg side, Smriti tries to flick but misses.
Marizanne Kapp to Smriti Mandhana, Kapp dishes out a length ball around off, Smriti tries to defend off the front foot but it shoots up and pings the shoulder of her bat. Good technique shown by the batter as she immediately made her bottom hand loose.
Marizanne Kapp to Georgia Voll, Serves a length ball on middle, Voll works it in the gap at mid-wicket and opens her account with a single.
Kapp strikes in the final over of the Powerplay. Georgia Voll walks out to bat at number 3.
Marizanne Kapp to Grace Harris, OUT! CAUGHT! The breakthrough arrives, and it is a sharp catch at backward point. Harris had been kept quiet and something felt imminent. Kapp angles a length ball around middle, Grace looks to flick it through the leg side but only manages a leading edge. It balloons towards backward point where Laura Wolvaardt scampers across to her left and dives full length to complete a superb catch. Another lean outing for Grace Harris as RCB slip to 36 for 1.
Marizanne Kapp to Grace Harris, Angles in a length ball around off, Harris opens the face a bit and pushes it gently to extra cover.
Marizanne Kapp to Grace Harris, Uppish but safe. A length delivery outside, Harris drives it on the up but doesn't get the desired connection. It goes uppishly but dies down pretty early before reaching mid off.
Will Marizanne Kapp continue from this end and bowl the final over of the Powerplay? Yes, she is continuing...
- Smriti Mandhana 21 (21)
- Grace Harris 9 (10)
Nandni Sharma to Smriti Mandhana, Searches for the yorker, but bowls a low full toss, on middle, Mandhana clips it off the inner half of the bat towards square leg. She had to hit that, or else it would have been plumb.
Nandni Sharma to Smriti Mandhana, Goes fuller again and on off, Mandhana pushes it away to extra cover.
Nandni Sharma to Smriti Mandhana, Good fielding! Overpitched and on off, Smriti opens her bat face and drills it wide of point. Laura Wolvaardt dives to her left to make the stop and saves some runs for her team.
Nandni Sharma to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! Much more in control this time! Sharma sticks to the fuller length and on off, Smriti manages to get right underneath the ball and lofts it cleanly over mid off for another boundary.
Nandni Sharma to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! Takes the aerial route! Full again and outside off. Mandhana goes after it, but her bat turns in her hands upon contact with the ball. She ends up slicing it, but gets enough to get it over the extra-cover fielder as the ball trickles to the fence for a boundary.
Nandni Sharma to Smriti Mandhana, Fuller in length and around off, Smriti extends her arms and drives it firmly but fails to beat cover.
Will there be a bowling change? Chinelle Henry went for 12 runs in her second over, and that has prompted a bowling change. Here is Nandni Sharma...
- Grace Harris 9 (10)
- Smriti Mandhana 13 (15)
Marizanne Kapp to Grace Harris, Fullish delivery, on middle, Harris tucks it away towards mid-wicket. 8 runs off the over, 20 in the last two.
Marizanne Kapp to Grace Harris, Pitched up and on middle, Harris drills it away towards mid on.
Marizanne Kapp to Grace Harris, FOUR! Put away! Kapp bangs this into the pitch, on middle, but this is not short enough to trouble the batter. Harris gets on top, rolls her wrists and pulls it in front of square on the leg side for another boundary.
Marizanne Kapp to Grace Harris, Goes fuller and on middle, Harris watches it through and blocks it out.
Marizanne Kapp to Grace Harris, Back of a length and on middle, jags back in sharply. Harris stays back to clip it to the leg side but misses and gets hit on the thigh pad.
Marizanne Kapp to Grace Harris, FOUR! Grace Harris gets into the act now. Fuller but angling into the pads. Harris just has to get some bat on it and glances it wide of short fine for her first boundary.
A good way to end the 3rd over for RCB. They will hope to build on that momentum. Here is Marizanne Kapp to continue...
- Smriti Mandhana 13 (15)
- Grace Harris 1 (4)
Chinelle Henry to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries to end the over! Much fuller and just around off, Mandhana leans on to her drive and creams it between mid off and extra cover for four runs. 12 from the over!
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
