NAVI MUMBAI, March 7, 2026 – A sublime 96-run knock from skipper Smriti Mandhana guided the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over the Delhi Capitals (DC) at the DY Patil Stadium on Saturday. The win, achieved with 29 balls to spare, solidified RCB’s position at the top of the Women’s Premier League table, preserving their unbeaten record this season.
Chasing a modest target of 128 set by Delhi, RCB’s chase hit an early snag when Marizanne Kapp removed the dangerous Grace Harris for just 1 in the second over. However, any hopes Delhi had of defending their total were swiftly extinguished by a commanding 142-run partnership between Mandhana and Georgia Voll.
Mandhana was in imperious form, blending elegance with aggression. Her 96 came off just 59 balls and was studded with 12 boundaries and three sixes. She expertly paced the innings, accelerating after the powerplay to dismantle the Delhi bowling attack. Her counterpart, Georgia Voll, provided perfect support with an unbeaten 54 (45 balls), anchoring the chase with calm assurance.
“Really happy with the way the team is shaping up,” said Mandhana after receiving the Player of the Match award. “We lost an early wicket, but Georgia and I just focused on building a partnership. The pitch was good, and we backed ourselves to get the job done.”
The only blemish in a near-perfect chase was Mandhana falling four runs short of a deserved century, caught at point off Nandni Sharma in the 18th over. Richa Ghosh (6*) then joined Voll to hit the winning runs—a scooped four—to seal a comfortable bonus-point victory.
Earlier, RCB’s disciplined bowling attack restricted a strong Delhi Capitals batting lineup to 127 all out in 19.1 overs. The wicket offered some assistance, and RCB’s bowlers, led by Nadine de Klerk (2/22) and Shreyanka Patil (2/18), struck at regular intervals. Key Delhi batters like Shafali Verma (18), Jemimah Rodrigues (23), and Marizanne Kapp (20) got starts but failed to convert them into a match-defining total.
The result marks a significant statement from RCB, who look like the team to beat this season. For Delhi Capitals, it’s back to the drawing board as they search for consistency in the tournament.
Brief Scores:
Delhi Capitals Women: 127 all out in 19.1 overs (Rodrigues 23; Patil 2/18, de Klerk 2/22)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women: 164/2 in 18.2 overs (Mandhana 96, Voll 54*; Kapp 1/24)
Result: RCB won by 8 wickets.
Player of the Match: Smriti Mandhana (RCB).
