In a commanding display of cricket, table-toppers Delhi Capitals (DC) thrashed Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by nine wickets in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The victory further solidified DC’s position at the top of the league table, while RCB’s struggles continued in front of their home crowd.
DC’s Clinical Chase
Chasing a modest target of 148, Delhi Capitals made light work of the total, reaching 148/1 in just 16 overs. Openers Shafali Verma and Meg Lanning set the tone early, with Shafali unleashing her trademark aggressive batting. Despite an early setback when Lanning (2 off 12) was caught brilliantly by Ellyse Perry off Renuka Singh’s bowling, Shafali found a reliable partner in Jess Jonassen.
Shafali Verma was the star of the chase, smashing an unbeaten 78 off just 49 balls, including 8 fours and 4 sixes. Her innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, as she consistently found the boundary with ease. Jonassen provided excellent support, scoring a composed 50 off 38 balls, as the duo stitched together a match-winning partnership of 143 runs.
The chase was punctuated by a flurry of boundaries and sixes, with Shafali sealing the victory in style. She hammered a six off Sneh Rana to level the scores and then swept a full toss for four to finish the game, sending the DC dugout into celebrations.
RCB’s Struggles with the Bat
Earlier in the evening, RCB posted 147/5 in their 20 overs, a total that always seemed below par on a good batting surface. Ellyse Perry once again played a crucial role, scoring a gritty 50 off 42 balls, but lacked consistent support from her teammates. Danni Wyatt-Hodge contributed 21 off 18 balls, but the middle order failed to capitalize on the foundation laid by Perry.
RCB’s innings was marked by frequent wickets and an inability to accelerate in the death overs. Despite a few boundaries from Richa Ghosh and Raghvi Bist, the home side struggled to build momentum. DC’s bowlers, led by Shikha Pandey (1/24) and Shree Charani (2/25), kept the pressure on throughout the innings, with Charani picking up her maiden WPL wickets.
Key Moments
- Perry’s Fifty: Ellyse Perry’s half-century was a lone bright spot for RCB, as she anchored the innings amidst the fall of wickets.
- Shafali’s Blitz: Shafali Verma’s explosive batting ensured DC’s chase was never in doubt, as she dominated the RCB bowlers from the outset.
- Charani’s Breakthrough: Shree Charani’s double strike in the 17th over, dismissing Raghvi Bist and Richa Ghosh, dented RCB’s hopes of posting a competitive total.
Post-Match Reactions
DC captain Meg Lanning praised her team’s all-round performance, stating, “It’s always tough to play back-to-back games, but the girls showed great character. Shafali was outstanding, and the bowlers did their job perfectly.”
RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana expressed disappointment with her team’s performance, saying, “We needed a better total on the board. Credit to DC for the way they played, but we need to regroup and come back stronger.”
What’s Next?
With this win, Delhi Capitals continue their dominance in WPL 2025, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru will need to reassess their strategies as they look to turn their season around. The action now shifts to the next leg of the tournament, with teams vying for a spot in the playoffs.
Brief Scores:
RCB: 147/5 in 20 overs (Ellyse Perry 50, Danni Wyatt-Hodge 21; Shree Charani 2/25)
DC: 148/1 in 16 overs (Shafali Verma 78*, Jess Jonassen 50*; Renuka Singh 1/20)
Result: Delhi Capitals won by 9 wickets.
Player of the Match: Shafali Verma.
