The Royal Challengers Bangalore slumped to their fifth consecutive defeat, going down by six wickets to the Delhi Capitals in an exciting WPL encounter at the DY Patil Stadium on Monday night. Failing to live up to their reputation, the star-studded RCB are now almost out of the inaugural season of the league. The Capitals, meanwhile, recorded their fourth win in five games, and look to be the favourites to end up in the top 3. Chasing 151, DC needed 9 in the final over, but Jess Jonassen (29 not out) smashed Renuka Thakur for a six and then down the ground off the third and fourth ball to seal her team’s victory with a couple of deliveries to spare. With DC at 109 for 4 in the 15th over, the game hung in balance before Marizanne Kapp (32 not out) and Jonassen added 45 for the fifth wicket in 31 balls to seal the chase. For a change, DC lost their in-form openers Shafali Verma (0), coming off a blazing 28-ball 76 not out in the last game, and skipper Meg Lanning (15 off 18 balls) early. However, their middle order came good as Alice Capsey (38) and Jemimah Rodrigues (32) too chipped in with useful runs.
Mighty MI brush aside UP
The Mumbai Indians cantered to their fourth win on the trot on Sunday night when they drubbed the UP Warriorz by eight wickets. Looking unstoppable, Mumbai are now on the cusp of booking their spot for the final at this venue on March 26. After another fabulous spell by left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque (3-33 in 4 overs) restricted UPW to 159 for 6, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (53 not out) and Nat-Sciver Brunt (45 not out) put on 106 for the second wicket in just 61 balls to help MI romp home. While Nat-Sciver pulled Shabnim Ismail for a four and a six to finish off the chase and stamp MI’s domination, it was Kaur’s second half-century which stood out for its sheer elegance and pure class.
Shafali, Kapp help DC win big
Fired by sizzling performances from pacer Marizanne Kapp (5-15 in 4 overs) and the explosive Shafali Verma (76 not out), the Delhi Capitals romped to a thumping 10-wicket win, with as many as 77 balls to spare, over Gujarat Giants at the DY Patil Stadium. It was the second consecutive night the WPL produced a10-wicket result, after the UP Warriorz hammered RCB by the same margin 24 hours earlier. Roaring back in style after losing to MI in a one-sided encounter at the same venue, DC have now recorded three wins in four games and, with 6 points in the kitty, are placed at the No. 2 spot behind MI. In a massive blunder, the Giants left out opener Sophia Dunkley, who had smashed a 28-ball 65, including an 18-ball 50, the fastest 50 of WPL, in the last game for the sake of ‘team combination,’ and paid dearly, suffering their third defeat in four games. They are now sitting just above the bottom-placed RCB in the table, and are in danger of being knocked out at the league stage itself.
Warriorz romp home over RCB
It doesn’t take too long for champions to find their groove on the big stage. Having got out for 7 & 24 in her previous two outings, Alyssa Healy was yet to arrive in the Women’s Premier League, but when the Australian wicket-keeper-batter finally did fire, the world was left in awe of her explosive powers. After the UP Warriorz’ high class spin duo of Sophie Ecclestone (4-13 in 3. 3 overs) and Deepti Sharma (3-26 in 4 overs) skittled out Royal Challengers Bangalore for 138 in 19. 3 overs at the Brabourne Stadium on Friday night, Healy, playing a captain’s hand,turned the chase into a picnic, blasting an unbeaten 96 off 47 balls in a fearsome knock which contained 18 fours and a six.
