Smriti falls short of history, RCB cruise to 4th straight WPL Win; UPW Down MI Again

 


Smriti Mandhana was just four runs away from creating history. She could have become the first batter to score a century in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). That milestone, however, remained elusive on Saturday as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain was dismissed for a magnificent 96 against Delhi Capitals. Despite missing out on a hundred, Mandhana played a decisive role in RCB’s emphatic eight-wicket victory, which sealed their fourth consecutive win of the season. Earlier in the day, UP Warriorz registered a convincing 22-run win over Mumbai Indians in the day’s first match.

After losing the toss, Delhi Capitals were put in to bat and endured a disastrous start. They lost two wickets in the very first over, with in-form Lizelle Lee (4) and Laura Wolvaardt (0) dismissed cheaply both bowled by unplayable balls from Bell . As has been the case throughout the tournament, RCB pacer Lauren Bell made full use of the new ball, troubling the Delhi batters with her pace and variation.

The collapse continued as Sayali Satghare struck in the second over, removing Jemimah Rodrigues (4) and Marizanne Kapp (0) both bowled . Reeling at 10 for 4, Delhi were staring at a humiliating total before Shafali Verma and Niki Prasad (12) attempted to steady the innings. Shafali took on the responsibility of attack, while Niki provided brief support. After Niki’s dismissal at 69, Delhi also lost Minnu Mani (5), but a short partnership between Shafali and Sneh Rana (22) added some momentum.

Delhi’s eventual total of 166 owed a great deal to a late flourish from Lucy Hamilton, who smashed 36 off just 19 balls, including three fours and three sixes. Shafali was the standout performer, scoring a fighting 62 off 41 balls with five fours and four sixes. Both Bell & Satghare claimed  3 wickets each for RCB. 

Chasing the target, RCB lost Grace Harris early for 1, but from that point onwards it was a one-sided contest. Mandhana and Georgia Voll dismantled the Delhi bowling attack with ruthless efficiency, scoring at will and collecting ten or more runs almost every over. Mandhana was in sublime touch, bringing up her half-century in just 31 balls and continuing her assault with trademark elegance and authority.

For a while, it seemed inevitable that WPL would finally witness its maiden century. The dream ended in the 18th over when Mandhana attempted a big hit off Nandini Sharma and was caught by Lucy Hamilton. The stadium rose as one to applaud the RCB captain, with even some Delhi supporters saluting her remarkable knock. After Mandhana’s dismissal, Voll completed her half-century, while Richa Ghosh remained unbeaten to guide RCB home in style.

Earlier in the day, UP Warriorz made it two wins in a row against Mumbai Indians, following up Thursday’s victory with another dominant performance. Captain Meg Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield laid the foundation with fluent half-centuries, adding 119 runs for the second wicket in just 76 balls. Lanning scored a glorious 70, while Litchfield chipped in with a classy 61 as UP posted an imposing 187 for 8 while Harleen (25) & Tryon (21) playing breezy cameos at the end . 

Mumbai’s chase never truly gained momentum. Their top order failed once again, despite a reshuffled opening pair. Hayley Matthews (13) and Sajeevan Sajana (10) departed cheaply, while Nat Sciver-Brunt (15) and Nicola Carey (6) were also unable to make an impact. At 62 for 4 after 10 overs, the required rate had climbed steeply.

Any remaining hopes faded when captain Harmanpreet Kaur was dismissed for 18 in the 11th over much to the delight of Warriors team . Late resistance from Amanjot Kaur (41 off 24 balls) and Amelia Kerr (an unbeaten 49 off 28) added some excitement & respectability to the scoreline, but the target proved too stiff. Mumbai eventually finished on 165 for 6, handing UP Warriorz their second win of the season and condemning Mumbai to their third defeat in five matches.

Both winning captains were also the player of the match in their respective matches . 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Christmas Special : Top 20 Churches in India- A brief introduction

Image
  Top 20 Churches in India India’s Christian heritage spans nearly two millennia, reflecting apostolic traditions, colonial influences, and indigenous expressions of faith. These churches stand out for their historical importance, architectural grandeur, spiritual significance, and cultural legacy. 1. Basilica of Bom Jesus – Goa Founded: 1605 Significance: Houses the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier Style: Baroque Legacy: UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important Christian pilgrimage centres in Asia 2. Se Cathedral – Old Goa Founded: 1562 Significance: One of the largest churches in Asia Style: Portuguese-Gothic Legacy: Symbol of Portuguese ecclesiastical power in India 3. Santhome Basilica – Chennai Founded: 16th century Significance: Built over the tomb of St. Thomas the Apostle Style: Neo-Gothic Legacy: One of only three churches in the world built over an apostle’s tomb 4. Velankanni Basilica – Tamil Nadu Founded: 16th century Significance: Known as the “Lour...
Read more

Desserts: Ssiat Hotteok - How to prepare this Korean pancake

Image
Ssiat Hotteok  is a variation of Hotteok , a popular Korean stuffed pancake. While traditional Hotteok is filled with brown sugar, cinnamon, and peanuts, Ssiat Hotteok is unique to Busan , where it includes a crunchy filling of various seeds (most commonly sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and more) in addition to the sweet syrup. Hot, chewy on the outside and oozing with a nutty, sugary crunch on the inside, Ssiat Hotteok is especially popular in colder months and a must-try for food lovers visiting Korea. Ingredients For the Dough: 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup glutinous rice flour (for chewiness) 1 tbsp sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp instant dry yeast 3/4 cup warm water (more as needed) 2 tbsp milk (optional, for richer dough) 1 tbsp vegetable oil (plus more for frying) For the Filling: 1/3 cup brown sugar 1 tsp cinnamon powder 1/4 cup chopped peanuts or walnuts (optional) For the Seed Mix: 1/4 cup sunflower seeds (hulled) 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds ...
Read more

Desserts : Kosar Laddu - How to make this Indian festive sweet item

Image
  Kosar Laddu is a traditional homemade sweet that stands out for its simplicity and rich, rustic flavour. Made with rice flour, jaggery, ghee and aromatic fennel, this laddu is soft, mildly sweet and perfect for festive occasions or as a comforting treat with tea. Ingredients : 1 cup rice flour ½ cup jaggery ½ cup ghee A pinch of salt 1 teaspoon fennel seed powder 1 cup milk Method : First, sift the rice flour thoroughly and transfer it to a mixing bowl. Add the ghee, salt and fennel seed powder, and mix well. Gradually add milk as required and knead to form a smooth dough. Ensure that the dough is neither too soft nor too stiff. Once the dough is ready, grease your palms lightly with ghee. Take small portions of the dough and shape them into round laddus, just as you would make traditional laddus by hand. Your Kosar Laddus are now ready to be served.
Read more