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It was Smriti Mandhana show at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) skipper slammed a brilliant knock of 96 runs to help her side thrash Delhi Capitals (DC) by 8 wickets to continue their winning run in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 on Saturday, December 17. Mandhana missed out on a well-deserved ton but helped her team make light work of the 167-run target against DC.
Mandhana's 96 off 61 balls was laced with 13 fours and three sixes as she combined with Georgia Voll, who scored an unbeaten 51, to help RCB chase down the target of 167 runs with eight balls to spare. RCB bagged their fourth win in a row in the WPL 2026 to end the Navi Mumbai leg unbeaten.
The RCB skipper came close to becoming the first batter to score a century in the WPL, however, she ended up missing out closely after getting caught by Lucy Hamilton off the bowling of Nandini Sharma in the 18th over of RCB's chase. Nonetheless, Mandhana ended up notching up her highest-ever score in the WPL, surpassing her previous best of 81 against DC last year.
In pursuit of a tricky target of 167 runs, Mandhana got RCB off to a good start despite losing her opening partner, Grace Harris, cheaply on 1 off 4 balls in the third over. Mandhana combined with Voll to steady the ship for RCB as the duo added a match-winning stand of 142 runs for the second wicket.
Mandhana was on top of her game, using her technique and power to perfection. She pierced gaps with ease and made great use of footwork to send the DC bowlers to the cleaners enroute to her 96-run knock. Playing her first game for RCB this season, Voll also stood up under pressure with an unbeaten 54 to help her side continue their unbeaten run in the tournament.
Earlier, Shafali Verma played a fantastic knock of 41-ball 62 under pressure to rescue DC after a poor start. Asked to bat first in the game, DC got off to a horror start as they lost their in-form opener Lizelle Lee cheaply on a duck, before Laura Wolvaardt was cleaned up by Lauren Bell on a duck.
Skipper Jemimah Rodrigues also departed cheaply on 4, while Marizanne Kapp too was sent packing on a duck as DC were left reeling at 10/4 in the 2nd over. However, Shafali continued her attacking game from one end and added a 59-run stand for the 5th wicket with Niki Prasad (12) to steady the ship for DC.
She batted till the 17th over and lifted DC from 10/4 to 130/8 with her brilliant 62. Sneh Rana (22) and Lucy Hamilton (36) also made vital contributions to help DC post a fighting total of 166 runs in 20 overs. However, the total didn't prove enough as Mandhana's brilliance took RCB home comfortably.
While RCB bagged their fourth win in a row to remain on top of the WPL 2026 points table, DC remain at the bottom with just two points from a solitary win in four matches so far this season.
