In a game that felt like a seesaw, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) maintained their flawless streak in the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) with a dominant 8-wicket win over Delhi Capitals. While the Capitals managed to scrape their way to a respectable 166 after a nightmare start, RCB’s chase turned into a one-woman masterclass. Skipper Smriti Mandhana was in sublime touch, nearly touching the three-figure mark, as her side chased down the target with 10 balls to spare at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy.
The evening began with RCB winning the toss and elected to bowl, a decision that looked like a stroke of genius within the first ten minutes. Delhi’s top order was absolutely rattled by the pace of Lauren Bell and the precision of debutant Sayali Satghare. In a chaotic opening burst, the Capitals found themselves at a disastrous 10/4 in just the second over. Stars like Lizelle Lee, Laura Wolvaardt, and skipper Jemimah Rodrigues were all back in the hut before the fans had even settled into their seats.
However, Shafali Verma wasn’t ready to let the game slip away so easily. Playing a lone hand for a significant portion of the innings, she launched a fierce counterattack to stabilize the ship. Shafali smashed 62 off just 41 deliveries, peppered with five boundaries and four massive sixes. She found some much-needed company in Niki Prasad and Sneh Rana, who helped the Capitals claw their way back into the contest by milking the middle overs and punishing any loose deliveries.
Just when it looked like Delhi Capitals might settle for a subpar score, Lucy Hamilton provided a late-innings surge that changed the complexion of the game. The youngster played a blistering cameo, scoring 36 runs from only 19 balls. Her aggressive intent, supported by a few handy runs from Sree Charani, propelled Delhi Capitals to a final total of 166/10. It was a remarkable recovery from being four wickets down for almost nothing, giving their bowlers a fighting chance.
RCB’s reply started with a minor hiccup when the dangerous Grace Harris fell early for just 1 run, but that was where Delhi’s joy ended. Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll then combined for a massive 142-run partnership that effectively sucked the life out of the contest. Mandhana was particularly aggressive, dancing down the track and finding gaps with surgical precision. At the other end, Voll played the perfect supporting role, rotating the strike and finding her own boundaries to keep the pressure off her captain.
As the target drew closer, the only question left was whether Mandhana would reach her century. In a moment of high drama, she fell for a magnificent 96 off 61 balls, caught brilliantly by Lucy Hamilton at backward point. It was a heartbreaking end to a flawless knock that included 13 fours and 3 sixes. Despite the dismissal, the damage was done. Georgia Voll stayed till the end to reach her own half-century (54* off 42), sealing the victory and cementing RCB’s spot at the top of the table.
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