Delhi Capitals End RCB’s Unbeaten Run With Dominant Seven-Wicket Win

Vadodara, Jan 2026 : Laura Wolvaardt’s composed unbeaten knock of 42 guided Delhi Capitals (DC) to a commanding seven-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Saturday, bringing an end to RCB’s unbeaten run in the tournament.

Chasing a modest target of 110, Delhi Capitals reached the finish line with 4.2 overs to spare, a result that lifted them to second place on the points table and significantly boosted their Net Run Rate (NRR). The win also marked DC’s second successive victory, strengthening their push for a playoff berth.

Earlier in the evening, Delhi’s bowlers delivered a disciplined performance to bowl RCB out for 109 in 20 overs, the Bengaluru side’s lowest total of the season. RCB, who had already secured qualification for the playoffs, struggled to build partnerships and were consistently pegged back by regular wickets.

RCB captain Smriti Mandhana was the lone bright spot in the batting lineup, top-scoring with a fluent 38, while Radha Yadav contributed 18 down the order. However, none of the other batters were able to convert their starts, as DC maintained relentless pressure throughout the innings.

Delhi’s bowling attack was led by Nandni Sharma, who returned impressive figures of 3 for 26, while Marizanne Kapp was economical and effective, picking up 2 for 17. The DC fielders backed up their bowlers with sharp catching and athletic ground fielding, preventing RCB from accelerating in the latter half of the innings.

In reply, Delhi Capitals got off to a flying start courtesy of Shafali Verma, who smashed three boundaries off Lauren Bell in the opening over, collecting 16 runs and setting the tone for the chase. However, the momentum was briefly checked when Shafali was stumped off Sayali Satghare in the second over.

Two overs later, DC suffered another setback as Lizelle Lee fell attempting a slog-sweep, once again off Sayali, who emerged as RCB’s most effective bowler with figures of 2 for 18. At that stage, DC were 34 for 2, and the game still hung in the balance.

The turning point came through a calm and calculated partnership between Laura Wolvaardt and captain Jemimah Rodrigues, who added 52 runs for the third wicket. The duo capitalised on several lapses in the field, with RCB dropping catches and conceding easy boundaries through misfields. Jemimah, who made 24, was dropped twice before eventually being caught at extra cover off Radha Yadav.

With the target well within reach, Marizanne Kapp joined Wolvaardt and ensured there were no further hiccups. Kapp struck a brisk 19 not out, playing with authority against both pace and spin. Wolvaardt, meanwhile, remained the picture of composure, finding gaps with ease and finishing the chase in style.

The winning runs came in the 16th over, when Kapp swept Shreyanka Patil for four, sealing a comprehensive victory for Delhi Capitals.

Brief Scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru : 109 all out in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 38, Radha Yadav 18; Nandni Sharma 3-26, Marizanne Kapp 2-17)
Delhi Capitals : 111/3 in 15.4 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 42*, Jemimah Rodrigues 24; Sayali Satghare 2-18, Radha Yadav 1-10)
Delhi Capitals won by seven wickets