DC vs RCB LIVE Score, WPL 2024 Final:
Led by the charismatic Smriti Mandhana, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) clinched their first Women's Premier League (WPL) title with a powerful display. The final showdown took place on Sunday (17th March) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, where RCB trounced the Delhi Capitals (DC) by 8 wickets to lift the trophy.
RCB had a target of 114 runs which they achieved with ease in just 19.3 overs for the loss of two wickets. Ellyse Perry remained undefeated at 35 runs with Sophie Devine and Smriti Mandhana contributing 32 and 31 runs, respectively.
The Men's RCB Team Yet to Win an IPL Title
Shikha Pandey and Minnu Mani took one wicket each. This victory came in the second season of the WPL, which RCB won. In the first season, Mumbai Indians (MI) were the champions. Delhi Capitals faced defeat in the finals on both occasions.
On the contrary, there have been 16 seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL), and the men's RCB team has yet to claim a championship title. The success of the women's team undoubtedly increases the pressure on Virat Kohli's men's team.
In this final, the Delhi Capitals opted to bat first after winning the toss. However, the team crumbled to 113 all out in just 18.3 overs. Shafali Verma played a quickfire 44 off 27 balls for Delhi, while captain Meg Lanning scored 23. RCB's bowlers Shreyanka Patil grabbed 4 wickets and Sophie Molineux took 3.
Delhi's Impressive Start Succumbs to RCB's Spin Attack
Delhi Capitals got off to a roaring start, scoring 64 runs without losing a wicket in the first 7 overs. But then, RCB's spinner Sophie Molineux wreaked havoc, taking 3 wickets in her first 4 balls, including the key wicket of Shafali (44). Jemimah Rodrigues and Alice Capsey were bowled out soon after without scoring. Meg Lanning (23) was trapped LBW by Shreyanka Patil, delivering another blow to Delhi's batting. Then, in a single over, Asha removed Marizanne Cap (8) and Jess Jonassen (3), leaving Delhi in disarray, collapsing to 113 all out.
RCB Claims Their Inaugural Title
RCB, led by Smriti Mandhana, were playing their first final and secured their maiden title triumph. Delhi had finished at the top of the points table and secured a direct place in the finals, while RCB defeated the defending champions Mumbai in the eliminator to make their entry into the final.
Looking at the track records at this venue, Delhi had won 3 of their 4 matches leading to the final, whereas RCB had earned victories in 2 out of 4 games.
This season, before the final, Delhi had won 6 out of 8 matches played at this ground, while RCB had 4 wins to their name. This was the third clash between the two teams this season. Delhi had emerged victorious in both league-stage encounters, but RCB turned the tables in the final.
Here's the Finals Playing 11 for Both Teams
Delhi Capitals: Meg Lanning (Captain), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Alice Capsey, Marizanne Cap, Jess Jonassen, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Taniya Bhatia (Wicketkeeper), Shikha Pandey, Minnu Mani.
Royal Challengers Bangalore:
Smriti Mandhana (Captain), Sophie Devine, Sophie Molineux, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh (Wicketkeeper), Georgia Wareham, Meghna, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Shobana, Shraddha Pokharkar and Renuka Thakur Singh.
