Smriti Mandhana led from the front with an elegant half-century as Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat the struggling Delhi Capitals by eight wickets to secure their fourth consecutive win in the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Saturday.
Explosive opener Shafali Verma struck a fine half-century, single-handedly guiding DC to 166 all out after being sent in to bat. Shafali (62 off 41 balls, 5x4s, 4x6s) played aggressively, counterattacking after DC were down 74 for 6.
However, Mandhana’s knock overshadowed Shafali’s efforts as RCB chased down the target in 18.2 overs. RCB didn’t have the best start to their chase, with in-form Grace Harris departing in the third over. But Mandhana (96 off 61 balls) and Georgia
Voll (54 not out off 42 balls) steadied the ship, sharing a match-winning 142-run partnership for the second wicket, setting the platform for RCB’s win with 10 balls to spare.
WPL 2026: Delhi Capitals Vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Highlights
Mandhana was the aggressor, playing her shots fluently, while Voll played a supporting role. The duo batted with composure, collecting runs with ease to ensure a comfortable chase. Mandhana’s innings included 13 boundaries and three sixes, and Voll, who started slowly, picked up the pace as the match progressed, hitting five fours and two sixes during her 42-ball knock.
Mandhana fell four runs short of her century, brilliantly caught by debutant Lucy Hamilton off Nandani Sharma, but by then, the damage was already done.
Other Performers As RCB Beat DC
DC had a torrid start, losing Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt in the opening over. Skipper Jemimah Rodrigues, Marizanne Kapp, Niki Prasad, and Minnu Mani also failed to contribute significantly, leaving DC reeling at 74 for 6 in 8.1 overs.
Shafali, however, was at her destructive best, holding one end with her aggressive batting. She shared a 59-run partnership with Prasad (12), who played a supporting role, to keep DC’s innings alive. Shafali played an array of shots to all parts of the ground, bringing up her fifty with a single off left-arm spinner Radha Yadav. From 10 for 4, she kept DC in the game with her counterattacking approach.
She then shared a vital 34-run partnership with Sneh Rana, who scored a run-a-ball 22, to keep DC’s innings afloat before Rana was cleaned up by spinner Prerna Rawat in the 14th over. Shafali got a reprieve when she was dropped by Gautami Naik in the 16th over at long-off off the bowling of Yadav.
Shafali finally departed when she was caught by Prema Rawat off the bowling of Lauren Bell.
(With inputs from Agencies)
