There it is - the coup de grâce, and the Capitals soar into the playoffs. Yet again. And this time, they seem intent to prove this season will be different than the first two! RCB, on the other hand, having returned home as defending champions and feeling on top of the world (and the table), crash to their fourth successive defeat, with their title defence also in serious peril! Back to the ball now. This is a loose full toss outside leg. Shafali cannot believe her luck and after rubbing her eyes, dumps it over short fine leg to seal the deal. DC are all smiles. The first box of their season has been ticked and if these last few performances are any indicator, there might be boxes to tick. As for RCB, well, they will now have to wait a year (at least) to taste victory on their proud patch, and to give this raucous and rousing crowd support something tangible to get behind!
RCB Women vs DC Women, 14th Match at Bengaluru, WPL, Mar 01 2025 - Match Result
10:53pm That will be a wrap from us. Another evening, another RCB home defeat, and another Capitals surge into the playoffs. Their place in the top three is assured and they will now eye top spot and a direct passage to the final. Lots of work to do for RCB, meanwhile, and they will hope a change of venue brings about a change of fortunes.
We hope you enjoyed our coverage tonight and we will be back with more WPL action soon. Until then, this is me (Shashwat) signing off on behalf of Vairavan and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Goodbye, goodnight and take care!
Shafali Verma, Player of the Match: I am feeling very good, coming back unbeaten and having made the team win. When the team wins, I feel very happy as a player. In the first two or three overs, I was trying to keep myself calm and keep talking to my partner. JJ and my conversations were going so well that we did not feel pressure of the dot balls. We wanted to just see the ball and react, and not be pre-determined. Will try to just see the ball and react, and do well for the team (moving forward as well). If this score was 170, we would have had to hit a little more in the powerplay. But because of this target, I thought of taking this deep and tried to middle the ball.
Meg Lanning, Delhi Capitals captain: Back-to-back games, we wanted to come back here and continue the momentum. It was an excellent performance, were not at our best in the field, but not for a lack of effort. It was just about starting again today and bringing that same energy. Everyone turned up today with a great mindset. We knew we had to play well to beat RCB and certainly happy with the performance. They (the seamers) have all done an excellent job. We have been consistent with taking wickets throughout the innings, which is important in holding things back. We are not dependent on 1-2 players and that has been a strength (for us). (On Jonassen at 3) She has done an excellent job, come in and played beautifully, really taken the pressure off. That is what we want her to do - play with freedom. We will have a couple of days off, been a pretty hectic tournament. Chill for a couple of days before heading to Lucknow. We don't want to muck around with things, (and want to) keep going and keep the momentum going.
Here's Deep Gadhia with an amazing stat. Highest partnership in run-chases in the WPL:
146* - Shafali Verma & Jess Jonassen v RCB, Bengaluru today
139* - Alyssa Healy & Devika Vaidya v RCB, Brabourne 2023
133 - Hayley Matthews & Nat-Sciver Brunt v UPW, Bengaluru 2025
Smriti Mandhana, Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain: (On the batting) Pez batted really well to get us to that score. We could have gotten a better start from me as well. Batting wise, on that wicket, in the first innings, I thought 145 was a good effort. It did play a little on the slower side. We could have been better at adapting to the situation. We knew it was going to be the fourth match (on that pitch) but we could not (adapt). (On if retiring out Bist was an idea that was discussed) Not really. Raghvi is a 20-year-old and was trying her best, so we did not think (about that). We backed her to go for those sixes and the way she ended her innings was good (for her). (On Renuka) She has been brilliant throughout the six matches. She has bowled the tough overs in the powerplay, and has been brilliant. Hopefully we can back her up with some good performances from the others as well. (On going to Lucknow) We all have a week off, so a lot of reflection for sure. That is how cricket is, you start the way you want to but it is really hard for the fans, they came out in huge numbers and supported us. Hopefully we can get something in the next few games. (On the message to the fans) I would just say sorry, they came out in huge numbers. We could not win a match for them in Bengaluru, but in cricket, you have to keep the past aside. We have to forget that (and move ahead). They are still chanting (our name) and that is why they are the best fans in the world.
Jess Jonassen: It was really nice having someone like her (Shafali) at the other end. The left-right combination worked, did not allow the RCB bowlers to settle on their lines. With the slightly shorter side, glad I was able to capitalize. Knew that there was going to be some shape early. The wicket was holding a fraction, needed to keep playing straight and not panic. We were a bit behind in the first few overs, knew not to panic and got to be level with where RCB were after the powerplay. I just kept reminding her (Shafali) to be smart and she kept reminding me to go straight. She is a quality ball-striker and the matter for her is to pick the right ball. She did that tonight and I love batting with her. We (as a team) are building perfectly. Started a little bit rusty. Tonight was challenging after last night. We were sloppier than we would have liked but thankfully, it did not cost us much. Charani coming in on debut, bowled excellently as well. We were in a really nice spot and looking forward to a few days off. (On Charani) She has got incredible control. She is just unflappable. She wanted to come in and do her job, and she did that tonight. She bowls with a good trajectory and she is still working on her craft, and it was amazing she could come in (and perform like that).
10:31pm Two days, two commanding and extremely comfortable wins. If this schedule was meant to test the Capitals and their mettle, fair to say that they have passed it with flying colours. Lanning, who was the star of the show yesterday, struggled tonight, but Shafali and Jonassen took up the mantle. Both of them creamed gorgeous half-centuries and ensured there were zero hiccups.
RCb, to be blunt, lacked ideas, momentum and the precision to put DC under pressure. They got off to a brilliant start, dismissing Lanning but lost their grip on the game soon after, with Jonassen and Shafali counter-punching. Perry was uncharacteristically expensive too and that probably sums up this evening, and their home leg, which has not quite gone to plan.
back of a length outside off. Punched into the off side but she cannot beat extra cover
watch that ball fly! Tossed up on a length outside off. Shafali marches down the track and clobbers the living daylights out of this one. High and mighty over long on!
finds the gap this time, and she finds the fence too! Full and wide, and that is right up Jonassen's alley. She backs away and knifes it past point!
short outside off. Jonassen laces her cut but cannot get it past the fielder at point
Around the wicket now
angled into the stumps. Worked away comfortably for a single
back of a length just outside off. Jonassen waits for it and tugs it towards long on
back of a length on the stumps. Punched down the ground to long on
wow, what was that?! Banged in so short that Bist's toe-nails are fortunate to have escaped damage. Shafali has a huge swish at it and slashes it past short third!
Raghvi Bist to try her luck now
length just outside off. Shafali knocks it down to long on and keeps strike
four more! The runs keep flowing! Slides this in full on the pads. Shafali has a heave at it and the ball squirts away off the inside edge, beating Ahuja to her right at short fine leg!
length ball following Jonassen outside leg. She advances nevertheless and flicks it towards deep backward square leg
fuller on the pads. Shafali gets inside the line and helps it towards deep backward square leg
pushed over the fence - oh dear, Garth has made a complete hash of this! Angled into the slot on off stump. Shafali plants her front foot and gets under it. Launches it towards deep mid wicket, where Garth first runs in and then has to back-pedal. Tries to take it over her shoulder but only ends up parrying it over the fence. Might have hurt her finger too, and that sums up RCB's evening!
back of a length just outside off. Jonassen opens up her stance and heaves it towards deep mid wicket
full just outside off. Jonassen advances and drives it towards long on
back of a length on leg stump. Skids on and Shafali hacks it towards deep backward square leg
back of a length on leg stump. Jonassen stays back and pulls it towards deep backward square leg
dropped shorter outside off. Shafali hops back and tugs it towards deep mid wicket
fizzed in on a length on off. Shafali opts to stay back and taps it hurriedly into the off side
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
2W | ||||
| M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | |
| Toss | Delhi Capitals Women, elected to field first |
| Series | |
| Season | 2024/25 |
| Player Of The Match | |
| Hours of play (local time) | 19.30 start, First Session 19.30-21.00, Interval 21.00-21.20, Second Session 21.20-22.50 |
| Match days | 01 March 2025 - night (20-over match) |
| Umpires | |
| TV Umpire | |
| Reserve Umpire | |
| Match Referee | |
| Points | Delhi Capitals Women 2, Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women 0 |
Over 16 • DC-W 151/1
DC Women won by 9 wickets (with 27 balls remaining)Powered by Smart Stats