Delhi Capitals (DC) players kept their composure and cool to beat Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 1 run in a nail-biting thriller on Sunday night. Chasing a gritty 182, Sophie Molineux and Ellyse Perry held the fort by giving a fine start to RCB. But DC bounced back with a few quick wickets. However, Richa Ghosh’s superb cameo of 29-ball 51 kept RCB in the hunt. Needing 17 runs in the final over, Ghosh smashed two huge sixes that almost took RCB home, and with just 2 runs needed in the final delivery, Ghosh failed to score it as Shafali Verma dismissed her with brilliant work on the field.
Batting first, captain Meg Lanning and Shafali gave DC an excellent start, adding 54 runs in the powerplay overs. Lanning played some lovely shots and produced some deft touches while Shafali played attacking shots to find the boundary ropes. Desperate to get a wicket, RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana brought Sobhana Asha into the attack and she responded well by dismissing Shafali (23). In the next over, Shreyanka Patil got the important wicket of the Orange Cap holder Lanning (29), trapping her in front of the stumps.
However, Jemimah Rodrigues and Alice Capsey stitched an outstanding 97-run partnership, pushing DC to reach a good total. Jemimah (58) played an aggressive innings, smashing the ball all around the park. The right-handed batter reached her fifty in just 26 balls, the second fastest in WPL history. Capsey departed after scoring a brilliant 48. Shreyanka bowled an excellent final over, conceding just 5 runs and DC finished 181/5 in 20 overs.
RCB’s chase got off to a shaky start as Capsey dismissed Mandhana in the second over of the innings. Although Molineux and Perry started slowly, both played attacking shots after finding their rhythm, adding 80 runs for the second wicket. Shikha Pandey did a brilliant fielding to run out Perry (49) and break the partnership. Molineux departed for 33 while Sophie Devine chipped in with 26. However, DC bowlers held their nerves to clinch a remarkable win.
