Royal Challengers Bengaluru completed a stunning record Women’s Premier League chase to lift their second title and inflict a fourth successive final defeat on Delhi Capitals.
RCB, who won their first title in 2024, chased 204 with two balls to spare after a memorable innings from both captain Smriti Mandhana (87 off 41) and Australia’s Georgia Voll (79 off 54).
The pair put on a record-breaking stand of 165 off 92 balls after they lost Grace Harris in the second over for nine.
They brilliantly exploited their match-ups and Mandhana’s superb innings saw her finish as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 377.
Voll was dismissed with 30 required and Richa Ghosh followed seven balls later, before Mandhana fell in the penultimate over when she was bowled by Chinelle Henry.
Radha Yadav was dropped off her first ball, but with 10 needed from the final over, she hit the third and fourth balls over the covers for four to seal victory.
The defeat marked another disappointment for Capitals, who have been beaten in every final in the tournament’s four-year history.
“I’m very pleased. Three titles as a franchise [two women’s and one men’s] in the past three years is amazing,” said Mandhana.
“We knew 200-plus was a good score but we pulled it back in the final four overs and I want to say Lauren Bell, to concede 19 in four overs, that was a match-winning spell.”
Despite yet another defeat, Capitals captain Jemimah Rodrigues praised her side’s spirit.
“I couldn’t be more proud of this team. This season hasn’t been easy for us but the character we showed to reach the finals – I couldn’t ask more.”
