WPL 2024: Royal Challengers Bangalore Women vs Delhi Capitals Women, 7th Match - Who Said What?

The M Chinnaswamy Stadium witnessed a high-scoring encounter on Thursday, February 29 as Delhi Capitals got the better of Royal Challengers Bangalore by 25 runs at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in match 7 of the Women's Premier League (WPL)

Chasing a stiff target of 195, Bangalore fought hard thanks to a blistering knock from captain Smriti Mandhana but the likes of Richa Ghosh and Sophie Devine failed to convert their starts and provide the necessary support.

Mandhana's innings of 74 off 43 balls kept Bangalore's hopes of pulling off the highest successful run chase in WPL history alive. She hit ten fours and three sixes and dismantled the Capitals bowling. The Indian vice-captain added 77 runs off just 51 balls for the first wicket with Devine and 35 runs off 21 balls with Sabbhineni Meghana for the second. However, once the southpaw was knocked over in the 11th over by a Marizanne Kapp slower ball, things quickly went downhill for the Challengers.

While Meghana struggled for fluency during her knock of 36 off 31 balls, Richa's stay at the crease was entertaining but too short for Bangalore's liking. Eventually, Bangalore lost five wickets in the last two overs to finish at 169/9 in their 20 overs.

Jess Jonassen, who was playing her first match of the season, starred with the ball as she finished with figures of 3/21 in four overs. Kapp and Arundhati Reddy bagged two wickets apiece, while Shikha Pandey chipped in with the solitary wicket of Georgia Wareham.

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Shafali Verma, Alice Capsey help Delhi Capitals register second-highest total in WPL history

Earlier in the day, after Mandhana won the toss and opted to bowl first, Shafali Verma and Alice Capsey decimated the RCB bowling, stitching a scintillating 82-run partnership off just 43 balls. Verma got out immediately after registering her second consecutive half-century. Capsey and Jemimah Rodrigues also departed in quick succession as DC slipped to 124/4 in 15 overs.

However, a sensational 48-run partnership off just 22 balls between Kapp and Jonassen helped them get past the 170-run mark. Arundhati Reddy hit two boundaries in her four-ball stay at the crease and helped Delhi get to 194/5 in their 20 overs.

Also Read: WPL 2024, Match 7 Review: All-round Capitals sink Challengers at Chinnaswamy

Here’s what the two captains and the Player of the Match said after the game:

Losing Captain, Smriti Mandhana, Royal Challengers Bangalore, said:

(On the target) The way we bowled in the first two matches, we did not live up to our bowling. One bad game in a tournament like this…we will have to take whatever we can from this game and come back strongly. After the first innings, we felt they were plus-15 (in terms of runs). (On her playing through the leg-side more) With the way women's cricket is progressing, had to put in a bit of work into my leg-side shots. The boundary was short too and my eyes were constantly on it. (What they plan to work on) Won't be too critical because it is just one game. We did not bowl and field according to our standards. Hurrying up in the fielding. And when there is a big crowd, it is a challenge to maintain attention, and that is also something we will have to work on. That one extra fielder out might have made a difference.

Winning Captain, Meg Lanning, Delhi Capitals, said:

It looked like a reasonable wicket and the outfield is quick, so you come to the ground expecting plenty of runs. It is about restricting as many as a bowling unit. We did an excellent job with the bat, were able to keep the momentum going. Capsey and Shafali were great, Kapp and JJ too. Play to your strengths. Playing good shots gets you rewards here. As long as they are playing to their strengths, we will back them. When you are defending nearly 200, you need to stay as calm as you can. Going at that rate for 20 overs is tough. A couple of wickets makes it tough. Reddy bowled well, Kapp too. Just know that if you stick to it long enough, you will come through. Tough call (with selection). JJ came in and was excellent. Under pressure, she showed she can hold her nerve, nice to see her do well.

Player of the Match, Marizanne Kapp, Delhi Capitals, said:

(On being wicketless against RCB before tonight) I feel like I always get them on a flat wicket. While I was batting, I was just thinking that I had to bowl on this wicket (laughs). (On her batting) Have been hitting the ball really well, was trying to be positive and sticking to the areas where I am strong. She (Jonassen) played brilliantly. With the leggie coming in to her, she was great. Bowling pace on that wicket, it just sat up and you could hit through the line. Either had to bowl really full or into the wicket.