The Royal Challengers Bengaluru crushed the Delhi Capitals by eight wickets to extend their undefeated streak in the current season, while captain Smriti Mandhana lit up the Kotambi Stadium on Monday night by smashing 81 off 47 balls, her highest total in the Women’s Premier League (WPPL).
Following an outstanding bowling display by RCB, which saw Renuka Singh Thakur and Georgia Wareham take three wickets to dismiss DC for 141, Smriti and Danni Wyatt-Hodge came out firing, sharing a 107-run partnership for the first wicket.
However, Smriti was the most impressive player, displaying elegant strokeplay and hitting ten fours and three sixes in her knock at a strike rate of 172.34. Because of her game-winning efforts, RCB is currently leading the points table, and a victory would increase their net run rate.
Smriti was graceful right away, pulling and cutting Marizanne Kapp for two fours as she chased 143. She used mis-fields to her advantage and swept Minnu Mani twice for fours to neutralize her off-spin threat. Shikha Pandey gave Danni two boundaries, including another from a mis-field.
Before Danni sliced Shikha twice for two fours to end the Power-play at 57/0, Smriti continued her dazzling touch by hammering Arundhati Reddy over long-off for six. To keep RCB steady in the chase, the two then took a four off Annabel Sutherland and Jess Jonassen, respectively.
Smriti went out to drive Jess Jonassen for a boundary against her left-arm spin. She then went back to pull through square leg for another boundary, giving her fifty off just 27 balls with a single. On 34, Jemimah Rodrigues dropped her catch at deep extra cover, giving Danni a lifeline.
When Danni drove a wider ball through cover for a boundary and Smriti hit a short ball over deep mid-wicket for six with a lovely pull, Marizanne’s nightmare game continued. Jemimah held Danni’s catch by charging in at deep cover off Arundhati Reddy’s bowling, ending the opening stand that had been scoring 107 runs.
However, Smriti was unstoppable; she drove and dispatched Jess for four and six, respectively, and backed away to dispatch Annabel for four. She shuffled across to scoop, but the short fine leg fielder caught her off Shikha’s bowling on 81, ending her knock. However, with 22 balls remaining, Ellyse Perry and Richa Ghosh finished the chase, therefore it was too little, too late for DC.
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