Royal Challengers Bangalore Women finally ended the franchise’s trophy haul by defeating Delhi Capitals Women in the final of the Women’s Premier League 2024 (WPL 2024) on Sunday, March 17 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. After opting to bat first, DC were bowled out for just 113 in their allotted 20 overs as RCB spinners were around them. In reply, RCB chased down the target.
Earlier in the day, after winning the toss in a big game, Delhi Capitals got off to a fiery start as Shafali Verma came out all guns blazing. The DC opener massacred the RCB bowlers who smashed them for boundaries all over the park and took full advantage of the power play.
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Next, she took on Ellyse Perry in the fifth over, running her down the ground for another maximum and guiding one towards the offside on the boundary as DC completed the powerplay at 61/0. However, things changed quite quickly when Sophie Molineux turned the game on its head with a triple strike in the eighth over, dismissing Verma (44 off 27), Jemimah Rodrigues (0 off 2) and Alice Capsey (0 off 1) to leave Delhi on 65/3 after eight overs.
Poker-faced Lanning did not leave it easy for RCB. Sophie Devine and Smriti got off to a confident start and put on 49 runs before Shikha Pandey got Devine in the ninth over. Lanning brought out her premiership pace – Marizanne Kapp and Shikha – in the first 12 overs, potentially looking for a form to break through. The pair did well as they kept things close, playing a total of 26 points and dealing 33 rounds.
Jess Jonassen was only introduced in the 14th over with RCB needing 42 off as many deliveries. Smriti’s weakness outside the corkscrew got the better of her when Minnu Mani sent her back. Had the target not been so low, this fielding effort would have been a masterclass in how to defend against the intensity of a T20 Test from Lanning and Co., but 113 was far short even for the genius of the world’s most respected leader. In what clinched the victory with a perfect bow, Richa – who broke down in tears a week ago when she didn’t see a win against the same opponent – hit the winning lines.
