WPL 2024/25, DC-W vs RCB-W 4th Match Match Report, February 17, 2025

WPL 2024/25, DC-W vs RCB-W 4th Match Match Report, February 17, 2025

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Delhi Capitals by eight wickets in a dominant performance. RCB restricted DC to 141 runs, with Renuka Singh and Georgia Wareham taking three wickets each. Despite missing key players, RCB’s openers Smriti Mandhana (81) and Danni Wyatt-Hodge (42) formed a strong partnership, chasing down the target effortlessly. Mandhana notched her fastest WPL half-century, ensuring a smooth win in the 17th over. Jemimah Rodrigues led DC’s brief resistance with 34 runs, but the team’s middle order faltered, leading to their downfall. RCB’s victory marked a continued trend of successful chases in the league.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru 146 for 2 (Mandhana 81, Wyatt-Hodge 42) defeated Delhi Capitals 141 (Rodrigues 34, Renuka 3-23, Wareham 3-25) by eight wickets

The defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), swiftly dispatched a fully equipped Delhi Capitals side, restricting their batting lineup to just 141 before chasing down the target comfortably, continuing the trend of the chasing team winning for the fourth consecutive match. Despite missing key players Sophie Molineux, Shreyanka Patil, and Asha Sobhana, who contributed to last year’s victory against DC, Renuka Singh, Ekta Bisht, and Georgia Wareham joined forces to restrict DC to a subpar score.

In response, RCB openers Smriti Mandhana and Danni Wyatt-Hodge set up their second century partnership, having previously done so for Southern Brave in the Hundred in 2021. Mandhana achieved her fastest WPL half-century in just 27 balls, while Wyatt-Hodge showcased her skills with six fours on her way to 42 off 33. When she was dismissed in the 11th over, RCB needed only 35 runs from 55 balls, and they comfortably crossed the finish line in the 17th over.

Rodrigues steers DC in the powerplay; Lanning struggles again

Renuka dealt the first significant blow to DC as Shafali Verma, in her opening ball, was dismissed for a golden duck, taking a simple catch at mid-off. With Meg Lanning struggling at the other end, much like her performance against Shabnim Ismail two days prior, it was Jemimah Rodrigues who stepped up during the powerplay. Although she had a rocky start, surviving a review on zero, she quickly regrouped and launched into the RCB attack at the sight of spin, elegantly lofting Ekta Bisht over covers for a six. DC benefited from numerous byes and extras during the powerplay, which, along with Rodrigues’s assault of another six and two fours against VJ Joshitha in the sixth over, led to their second 50-plus powerplay in consecutive games.

DC falters again post-powerplay

Nonetheless, RCB made significant inroads with the introduction of Georgia Wareham in the seventh over. After Rodrigues was stumped for 34 off 22 while attempting a reverse sweep, DC lost Lanning in the subsequent over when the captain misplayed Kim Garth’s delivery to Ellyse Perry at deep-backward square leg. Annabel Sutherland briefly ignited hope with a big six against Bisht, indicating that DC wouldn’t be easily subdued; however, her aggressive approach led to her catching out in Renuka’s second spell. New batter Jess Jonassen soon misjudged a delivery from Bisht to midwicket, leading DC to a dismal 87 for 5 from a strong 60 for 1.

Things could have worsened, as Kanika Ahuja missed an opportunity to dismiss Marizanne Kapp at short fine leg, and a potential run-out situation between Kapp and Sarah Bryce was yet another let-off, culminating in the score of 105 for 6 when Kapp was dismissed by Bisht. Bryce contributed a valuable 23 off 19, but DC needed much more to make a match out of it. Wareham delivered a double blow in the 18th over, and Garth sealed the fate in the final over, concluding with figures of 2 for 19, while Renuka captured 3 for 23 and Wareham claimed 3 for 25.

Mandhana and Wyatt-Hodge sail through

Even with Kapp and Jonassen returning to the lineup after illness, DC offered little resistance to the RCB top order. Mandhana capitalized on Kapp’s erratic bowling in the first over, reversing her poor recent record against off-spin, as she swept Minnu Mani for two fours in the third over. Wyatt-Hodge found the gaps on the offside, particularly against Shikha Pandey, scoring four fours during the powerplay.

With RCB at 57 for 0 in the powerplay, their required run rate was a mere six per over. DC’s bowling changes failed to create any breakthroughs, as both Jonassen and Annabel Sutherland were punished for boundaries by both batters in their opening overs. The match felt all but decided after Rodrigues dropped Wyatt-Hodge on 34 following back-to-back boundaries from Mandhana.

Mandhana sent Kapp over midwicket for six and continued her attack on Jonassen, collecting 27 runs off just 14 balls. Although both openers were dismissed towards the end, the duo of Ellyse Perry and Ghosh ensured a seamless finish as RCB secured an eight-wicket victory, placing them atop the standings.

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