Royal Challengers Bengaluru dominated the Women’s Premier League final on Thursday, securing their second championship with a commanding six-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals at Vadodara’s BCA Stadium. Smriti Mandhana’s blistering knock proved decisive in overhauling a challenging total.
Electing to bat first after losing the toss, Delhi Capitals built a formidable 203/4. Shafali Verma and Lizelle Lee’s aggressive opening stand yielded 49 in 5.5 overs. Verma scored 20, Lee 37, but early wickets left them at 72/2.
Jemimah Rodrigues rose to the occasion, smashing 57 off 37 balls with eight fours alongside Laura Wolvaardt’s 44 in a vital 76-run alliance. Unbeaten Chinelle Henry (35) and Wolvaardt added 54 more to cross the 200-mark. RCB bowlers Sayali Satghare, Arundhati Reddy, and Nadine de Klerk shared the spoils with one wicket apiece.
In pursuit, RCB lost Grace Harris early for 9. Enter Mandhana and Wolvaardt, who plundered 165 runs in a breathtaking second-wicket stand. Wolvaardt’s 79 (54 balls, 14 fours) ended at 174/2, followed by Mandhana’s explosive 87 (41 balls, 12×4, 3×6) and Richa Ghosh’s 6.
Tension mounted, but Radha Yadav’s quickfire 12 not out off 5 balls steered RCB home in 19.4 overs. Henry grabbed two wickets for Capitals, supported by one each from Nandini Sharma and Minnu Mani.
RCB now joins the elite with their second WPL trophy, avenging past heartbreaks. Delhi Capitals, despite reaching a record fourth final, remain trophyless. MI holds titles from seasons one and three.
