A CENTURY opening stance has helped The Royal Challengers Bengaluru cruise to an eight-wicket win over the Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Indian Premier League season overnight.

Chasing 142 for victory, the Royal Challengers at times made it look easy, set up by that 107-run opening partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Danni Wyatt-Hodge.

Not much went right for the Capitals all night, which was encapsulated in a mix up in communication in the field that could have resulted in a second quick wicket just after the first fell. While batting they fell to 1-1 on the second ball of the innings, and although Meg Lanning and Jemimah Rodrigues then followed that with a 58-run partnership, none of their other partnerships were more than in the 20s.

Mandhana went on to make 81 off merely 47 balls, in an innings which included three sixes and 10 fours, while Wyatt-Hodge made 42. Both batters redeemed their poor performances from the first game of the season and batted more like they are renowned for and feared for.

Earlier in the match Renuka Singh Thakur and Georgia Wareham both took a trio of wickets, while Kim Garth and Ekta Bisht also got amongst the wickets in a strong sign of the Royal Challengers’ bowling depth. Singh Thakur was the one to strike on the second ball of the innings, while Wareham was the one to break up that innings high partnership of 58.

The Royal Challengers have almost half a week off before their next match, which is against Mumbai, while the Capitals have only a couple of days to regroup before they face the Warriorz.

DELHI CAPITALS vs ROYAL CHALLENGERS BENGALURU

RESULT: Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated the Delhi Capitals by eight wickets with 22 balls spare
POTM: Renuka Singh Thakur
TOSS: Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the toss and elected to field

Delhi Capitals 10-141 (19.3)
Jemimah Rodrigues 34 (22), Sarah Bryce 23 (19)
Renuka Singh Thakur 3-23, Georgia Wareham 3-25

Royal Challengers Bengaluru 2-146 (16.2)
Smriti Mandhana 81 (47), Danni Wyatt-Hodge 42 (33)
Arundhati Reddy 1-25

RECENT WIPL RESULTS

>> REPORT | Royal Challengers Bengaluru 4-202 (18.3) defeated Gujarat Giants 5-201 (20.0)
>> REPORT | Delhi Capitals 8-165 (20.0) defeated Mumbai Indians 10-164 (19.1)
>> REPORT | Gujarat Giants 4-144 (18.0) defeated UP Warriorz 9-143 (20.0)

2025 WIPL TABLE