Delhi's Strong Start
The Delhi Capitals set a formidable target of 203 for 4, propelled by a fiery start from Lizelle Lee who unleashed a barrage of boundaries early on. Despite
losing Shafali Verma for a quick 20, Delhi rebuilt their innings. Laura Wolvaardt joined Lee, and together they accelerated the scoring, with Wolvaardt finding her rhythm and finding the boundary multiple times. The momentum continued to build as Jemimah Rodrigues took charge, displaying superb form and punishing loose deliveries. She reached her half-century swiftly, continuing to punish bowlers with elegant drives and powerful strokes. Although Rodrigues eventually departed after a significant contribution, Chinelle Henry provided crucial late impetus. She smashed 24 runs off Nadine de Klerk in the 19th over, and a further 15 runs in the final over off Sayali Satghare helped Delhi post a commanding 203, the second-highest first-innings total in a Women's T20 tournament final.
RCB's Epic Chase
Royal Challengers Bengaluru embarked on a monumental chase, facing the highest-ever target in WPL history. Despite losing Grace Harris early, Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll joined forces to create magic. They forged an astonishing 165-run partnership, the highest for any wicket in the WPL, steering RCB towards their target with remarkable composure. Mandhana was in blistering form, reaching her half-century in just 23 balls, her fastest in the WPL, and looking unstoppable. Voll also contributed significantly, bringing up her half-century off 36 balls. Their seamless partnership seemed to turn a daunting chase into a comfortable victory, keeping RCB well ahead of the required run rate. This incredible display of batting prowess laid the foundation for a historic win, showcasing RCB's dominance throughout the season.
Tense Finish Secures Title
As RCB neared the finish line, Delhi Capitals mounted a late comeback, creating a dramatic twist in the final. Minnu Mani dismissed Georgia Voll for a brilliant 79, injecting tension into the game with RCB needing 30 off 21 balls. Richa Ghosh also departed cheaply. Then, Chinelle Henry struck a crucial blow, bowling Smriti Mandhana for 87, leaving Delhi with a glimmer of hope. With just 13 needed off 8 balls, a difficult catch was dropped in the covers. Radha Yadav, the new batter, sealed the thrilling victory for Royal Challengers Bengaluru by smashing two consecutive boundaries off N Shree Charani in the final over. This six-wicket triumph, achieved with just two balls to spare, secured RCB's second WPL title and denied Delhi Capitals once again in a final, concluding a spectacular season with a historic chase.
