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Mandhana's brilliance leads RCB Women to WPL title v Delhi

football05 February 2026 18:10| © MWP
By:Neil Manthorp
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Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women captain Smriti Mandhana scored a sensational 87 from just 41 balls to lead her dominant team to a six-wicket victory against the Delhi Capitals Women in the final of the WPL at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Thursday evening.

Chasing an imposing 204 for victory, Mandhana used all of her experience to gather 12 fours and three sixes using the pace of the seamers and subtle placement against the spinners in a superbly paced innings after Delhi had posted 203-4.

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Australian Georgia Voll was no less impressive in a ‘supporting’ role during a second wicket stand of 165 with 79 from 54 balls (14x4) which appeared to have decided the result before the nerves twitched, as they so often do, in a final.

Richa Ghosh limped to six from as many balls before miscuing a drive to long on, but Nadine de Klerk (7* from 5 balls) and Radha Yadav (12* from 5) ensured that a well deserved victory was attained with two balls to spare.

Earlier Lizelle Lee (37) and Laura Wolvaardt (44) helped lay the platform for an imposing Delhi total of 203-4 and captain Jemimah Rodrigues and Barbadian Chinelle Henry capitalised in sensational style with 57 from 37 balls and 35 from just 15 balls (4x4, 2x6) respectively.

Rodrigues had the chance to add another 10-12 runs which might have made the difference but flicked a full-toss to De Klerk at square leg with precious deliveries remaining but Delhi should reflect on an excellent performance and a fine campaign in which they had to win the Eliminator match just to reach the final. Strangely, Marizanne Kapp did not bat in the closing overs in search of quick runs.

Bangalore were the form team throughout the tournament winning their first five games before finishing with an 8-6-2 record compared to Delhi’s 8-4-4 and few would doubt that the best team in the tournament lifted the trophy.

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