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The craze for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) is reaching new heights every day, and the 2026 season is shaping up to be the most thrilling installment yet. Saturday night in Bengaluru was nothing short of a dream for the local fans. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) maintained their flawless winning streak by crushing Delhi Capitals (DC) in a one-sided encounter by 8 wickets. This marks RCB’s fourth consecutive victory, fueled primarily by a captain’s knock from Smriti Mandhana, who played an innings of 98 runs that will be etched in cricket history for years to come.
Although Mandhana fell agonizingly short of her century by just 2 runs, her dominance completely shattered the confidence of the DC bowling attack. In this deep-dive analysis, we cover everything from the tactical toss to the final boundary, Georgia Voll’s resilient comeback, and how RCB’s bowling unit restricted DC from reaching a massive total.
What happened in yesterday's match? First read our Last Match Highlights article and then watch this preview: [Read Here]"
1. Toss and Opening Exchange: The Tactical Battle Begins
The action began at the toss, where luck favored Smriti Mandhana. RCB elected to bowl first—a calculated decision given the conditions. At the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, the dew factor often plays a significant role in the second innings, making chasing a preferred option for captains who trust their batting depth.
Delhi Capitals opened with the explosive Shafali Verma. DC’s intent was crystal clear: exploit the powerplay and put RCB on the back foot within the first six overs. However, the RCB bowlers had executed a blueprint designed to stifle that very aggression.
2. Delhi Capitals’ Batting Collapse: RCB’s Bowling Dominance
The start for Delhi Capitals was disastrous. Within the opening overs, their top-order batters struggled against the pace and precision of the RCB attack.
Lauren Bell and Sayali Satghare: The Deadly Duo
Lauren Bell provided the initial breakthrough. Her ability to extract swing and bounce made it impossible for DC’s openers to settle. However, the real revelation of the night was debutant Sayali Satghare. Playing her first-ever WPL match, she displayed the composure of a veteran.
- Lauren Bell’s Spell: Bell claimed 3 crucial wickets, breaking the back of DC's top order during the powerplay.
- Sayali Satghare’s Dream Debut: Sayali also bagged 3 wickets, proving RCB’s incredible bench strength. She picked up key middle-order wickets, effectively putting the brakes on Delhi’s scoring rate.
At one stage, it looked like Delhi might collapse for a sub-130 total. But then, Shafali Verma decided to shift gears.
3. Shafali Verma and Lucy Hamilton: The Counter-Attack
While wickets were tumbling at one end, Shafali Verma held the other firm. She played a resilient yet aggressive knock of 62 runs off 45 balls. Her ability to punish any loose delivery kept Delhi in the hunt.
The real spark, however, came from Lucy Hamilton. Coming in lower down the order, Lucy played a blistering cameo of 36 runs from just 19 balls. Her late-innings fireworks propelled Delhi Capitals to a competitive total of 166 runs in their 20 overs. For RCB, the target was 167—a score that required discipline and a steady start.
4. RCB’s Chase: An Early Hiccup and The Mandhana Show
RCB’s pursuit of 167 started with a minor scare. The legendary Marizanne Kapp struck early, dismissing Grace Harris and sending a wave of silence through the stadium. For a moment, fans wondered if the winning streak was in jeopardy.
Then began the 'Smriti Mandhana Show.'
Smriti Mandhana’s Aggression
Mandhana signaled her intent from the very first ball. She took on both spinners and pacers with equal disdain. Her signature cover drives and authoritative pull shots were a treat for the spectators. Scoring 98 off 61 balls, Mandhana operated with nearly 90% control, leaving the DC bowlers clueless.
Georgia Voll’s Supporting Act
Mandhana was ably supported by Georgia Voll. After the match, Voll admitted she felt "scratchy" at the start and struggled with her timing. However, Mandhana played the role of a mentor mid-pitch, keeping her calm. Voll eventually found her rhythm and the duo stitched together a 142-run partnership, effectively knocking Delhi Capitals out of the contest.
5. The Heartbreak: 98 and Out!
With RCB needing just a few runs for victory, the entire stadium stood in anticipation of Mandhana’s century. Standing on 98, she attempted a big shot off Nandani Sharma, but the ball took a top edge. Lucy Hamilton dived to her right at point to complete the catch.
A hush fell over the crowd. Mandhana’s disappointment was visible, but she had already done the heavy lifting. Richa Ghosh walked in to finish the formalities, but the night belonged to the captain.
6. Detailed Match Statistics
| Player | Performance | Balls/Overs | Key Highlight |
| Smriti Mandhana | 98 Runs | 61 Balls | 160.65 Strike Rate |
| Georgia Voll | 54* Runs | 42 Balls | Perfectly paced half-century |
| Shafali Verma | 62 Runs | 45 Balls | Lone warrior for DC |
| Sayali Satghare | 3/28 | 4.0 Overs | Best figures on debut |
| Lauren Bell | 3/32 | 4.0 Overs | Powerplay specialist |
7. Captains’ Corner: Post-Match Analysis
Smriti Mandhana (RCB Captain): "I am more happy about our fourth consecutive win than the century. Our bowling unit was incredible today. Sayali’s debut was very impressive, and Georgia supported me brilliantly during the middle overs."
Jemimah Rodrigues (DC Captain): "We were 15-20 runs short. Smriti’s batting was world-class, and we simply had no answers for her today. We will learn from our mistakes and look to bounce back stronger on Monday."
Read More Women’s Cricket Live Scores & Match Updates:-
8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: How many runs did Smriti Mandhana score against Delhi Capitals?
A: Smriti Mandhana scored a brilliant 98 runs off 61 balls at a strike rate of over 160.
Q2: Did Smriti Mandhana complete her century?
A: Unfortunately, no. She was dismissed for 98, falling just 2 runs short of her hundred.
Q3: Who was the Player of the Match in RCB vs DC?
A: RCB Captain Smriti Mandhana was awarded Player of the Match for her match-winning 98-run knock.
Q4: How did Sayali Satghare perform in her debut match?
A: Sayali Satghare had a dream debut, taking 3 wickets for 28 runs in her 4 overs.
Q5: When is RCB’s next match?
A: RCB will face Gujarat Giants on Monday, January 19, 2026, at 7:30 PM IST.
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