In a major upset at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, Delhi Capitals Women (DC) snapped Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) unbeaten five-match winning streak with a clinical 7-wicket victory. The match was essentially decided in the first innings when Delhi’s disciplined bowling attack completely dismantled the RCB lineup, bowling them out for a meager 109 runs. Despite a few early hiccups in the chase, Delhi’s top order remained composed, reaching the target of 111/3 in just 15.4 overs and solidifying their spot in the top two of the points table.
The evening began with Delhi Capitals winning the toss and opting to bowl first, a decision that paid off almost immediately. RCB struggled to find any rhythm as Marizanne Kapp struck early, dismissing Grace Harris for just 9. While captain Smriti Mandhana looked like she was playing on a different surface, scoring a defiant 38 off 34 balls (including 6 fours and a six), she found no support. Once Minnu Mani got the prized wicket of Mandhana, the middle order folded like a deck of cards. Georgia Voll (11) and Radha Yadav (18) were the only other batters to reach double figures as RCB fell from 78/5 to 109 all out in exactly 20 overs.
Delhi’s bowling unit operated with surgical precision. Nandni Sharma was the standout performer, ripping through the lower order to finish with figures of 3/26. She was brilliantly supported by the veteran Marizanne Kapp, who set the tone with 2/17, and Minnu Mani, whose 2/18 accounted for the most dangerous RCB batters. The consistency of Delhi’s attack was reflected in their economy rates; Sree Charani was particularly stingy, conceding only 14 runs in her 4 overs while picking up a wicket.
Chasing 110, Delhi started with their usual aggression but faced a momentary scare. Shafali Verma looked dangerous with a quickfire 16 off 8 balls before being stumped off Sayali Satghare’s bowling. Satghare then doubled her tally by removing Lizelle Lee for 6, leaving Delhi’s slightly wobbly at 24/2. However, any hopes of an RCB comeback were quickly extinguished by a mature partnership between Laura Wolvaardt and captain Jemimah Rodrigues.
Laura Wolvaardt played the anchor role to perfection, finishing unbeaten on 42 off 38 deliveries. She showed her class by punishing anything loose, highlighted by a massive six on a free hit that shifted the momentum for good. She was joined by Jemimah Rodrigues, who contributed a steady 24 off 26 balls before falling to Radha Yadav. To put the finishing touches on a Player of the Match performance, Marizanne Kapp walked in and struck a brisk 19* off 15 balls, sealing the game with 26 balls to spare.
This victory is a significant statement for Delhi Capitals, who moved to the second spot on the points table with 6 points. For RCB, it was a reality check after a flawless start to the season. While they remain at the top, the loss delays their direct qualification for the final. The match proved that even the most dominant teams have vulnerabilities, especially when faced with the high-pressure bowling and tactical discipline that Delhi displayed in Vadodara.
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