WPL: Smriti Mandhana stars in RCB’s fourth win

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) continue to look unstoppable this season, firmly cementing their status as the team to beat. In their fourth match of the season, they produced yet another polished all-round display, highlighted by captain Smriti Mandhana’s breezy 96 off 61 (13x4; 3x6), as they cruised to an emphatic eightwicket victory over Delhi Capitals at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Saturday.This win was RCB’s fourth on the trot this season. The left-hand batter forged a dominant 142-run partnership with Georgia Voll, who struck an unbeaten 54 off 42 balls (5x4; 2x6).

Before the genius of Smriti unfolded, it was Lauren Bell who gave RCB a dream start with the new ball before returning later to claim the prized scalp of Shafali Verma to stop Capitals in their tracks. The English pacer has quickly become one of the most talked-about figures in the league, captivating fans and lighting up social media not just with her exceptional bowling but also with her striking presence.In her debut for RCB, the rightarm seamer delivered a maiden over and concluded her four-over spell with outstanding figures of 1/14, propelling her to overnight fame. Against Capitals, she led the attack from the front, producing early devastation in the opening over itself, clean bowling the dangerous Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt to instantly put Capitals on the back foot.Her new-ball partner Sayali Satghare kept the pressure unrelenting in the very next over, castling Jemimah Rodrigues and Marizanne Kapp in quick succession.

The scoreboard read a shocking 10/4 after two overs, leaving Capitals staring down the barrel.But India’s explosive ODI World Cup final hero Shafali Verma refused to let the innings unravel. Unleashing a fearless counter-attack, she blazed her way to 62 off 41 balls.Brief scores: DC 166 in 20 overs (Shafali Verma 62, Lucy Hamilton 36, Lauren Bell 3/26) lost to RCB 169/2 in 18.2 overs (Smriti Mandhana 96, Gerogia Voll 54*) by eight wickets.