WPL 2024 Final Highlights: Delhi Capitals Women vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Women

Royal Challengers Bangalore Women. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Royal Challengers Bangalore Women finally ended their franchise’s trophy drought as they won the Women’s Premier League 2024 (WPL 2024) beating Delhi Capitals Women (DC-W) in the final by eight wickets on Sunday, March 18 at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. After opting to bat first, Delhi were bundled out for 113 in 18.3 overs with Shreyanka Patil (4/12) and Sophie Molineux starring with the ball.

In reply, RCB chased down the target in 19.3 overs as Smriti Mandhana (31 off 39), Sophie Devine (32 off 27), Ellyse Perry (35* off 37) and Richa Ghosh (17* off 14) made valuable contributions. As a result, they etched their names in the history books as the winners of the second edition of the WPL.

Let’s take a look at the highlights from the final of WPL 2024:

1. Shafali Verma gets Delhi off to a blazing start

The DC opener came out with real intent of taking on the bowlers and made her intentions clear by smacking Sophie Molineux over her head for a maximum. She further welcomed Renuka Singh with a maximum in her second over and hit another against Ellyse Perry in the fifth over. Verma quickly raced to 42 (21) in the powerplay as DC were 61/0 after the first six overs.

2. Sophie Molineux’s game-changing over

Courtesy of an explosive knock from Shafali Verma, Delhi had got off to a great start with their score on 64/0 after seven overs. Seeing her team in trouble, captain Meg Lanning threw the ball to Sophie Molineux and the left arm didn’t disappoint. She first dismissed the dangerous Shafali who holed out to deep mid-wicket. Later, she dismantled the stumps of Jemimah Rodrigues (0 off 2) and Alice Capsey (0 off 1) off consecutive deliveries to bring RCB back into the game. Apart from taking wickets, Molineux also ran out Radha Yadav with a direct hit at the non-striker’s end from point.

3. Richa Ghosh hits the winning runs in RCB’s historic win

After failing to take her side over the line in the previous fixture against Delhi Capitals, Richa Ghosh finally had her moment of joy as she hit Arundhati Reddy towards deep extra cover to clinch a historic win for RCB. Ghosh remained unbeaten on 17* (14) and was well supported by Ellyse Perry (35* off 37) as the duo guided their team home with their unbeaten 33-run stand off 27 balls.

4. RCB girls go berserk after historic win

Captain Smriti Mandhana received the WPL trophy from BCCI President Roger Binny and Secretary Jay Shah as she became the first RCB captain to have her hands on the silverware. She was quickly joined by her team on the stage who were seen ecstatic having pulled off a sensational win and joyfully celebrated their triumph.