Smriti Mandhana proved to be the backbone of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s win against Delhi Capitals on Monday. She scored unbeatable 81 runs in 47 balls leading her team to win by eight wickets in the match.
Overall the team put up a strong performance with the bat and ball on the field and their decision to bowl first was proved right as Smriti Mandhana’s score chasing skills were great.
Smriti and Danni Wyatt-Hodge put together 57 runs in the powerplay. They ended up with an opening partnership of 107 runs in just 55 balls. And the team ended up chasing the target in just 16.2 overs.
Smriti Mandhana is also the vice-captain of India’s women team. She struck 10 fours and three sixes which brought the team close to their win for the day.
It was Smriti’s quickest fifty of the WPL which she scored in just 27 balls. Though the whole match was a sight to see as all the players did their best on the field especially Smriti Mandhana.
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The chase of 142 started with Danni’s good support with seven boundaries, which helped in maintaining the run rate for the match. She got a respite when Jemimah Rodrigues dropped a simple catch when Danni was on 34. Their superb opening stand of 107 runs left Delhi struggling.
The WPL defending champions scored 57 runs in six overs which helped the team in maintaining constant pressure against Delhi Capitals.
Smriti Mandhana’s six against Arundhati Reddy proved her intention, and then she scored successive boundaries off Shikha Pandey’s balling in the later overs. The choice to bowl first worked in RCB’s favour and the team saw the win very soon after playing only 16.2 overs.
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The weather also favoured the RCB players as the dew made the bowling for Delhi difficult, with a specific impact on the spinners, allowing Smriti and Danni to dominate the run chase. The match established RCB’s batting prowess and bowling skill, which moved them to the top with two victories from two matches played in the tournament.
