Smriti Mandhana produced a masterclass in chase, scoring 96 off 61 balls as Royal Challengers Bengaluru chased down Delhi Capitals’ 166 to record an eighth-wicket victory and their fourth consecutive win in WPL 2026. The RCB captain’s fluent innings included 13 fours and 3 sixes and drew a standing ovation when she was brilliantly caught just four short of a historic WPL century.
How the chase unfolded
Delhi Capitals posted 166 all out after a late middle-order recovery, with Shafali Verma’s counterattack and late hits from Lucy Hamilton providing momentum for the hosts. RCB, who elected to field first, began their chase aggressively and were soon propelled by Mandhana’s timing and intent. The target proved chaseable but required sustained aggression and focus from the Bengaluru openers.
The innings of the night
Mandhana paced her innings expertly, racing to a quick fifty before accelerating through the middle overs. Her 96 came off 61 balls and featured 13 fours and three sixes, underlining both the elegance and power of her strokeplay. The batter kept RCB ahead of the required rate throughout and frequently punished anything loose in the DC attack.
The catch that stopped history
With the crowd dreaming of a maiden WPL ton, debutant Lucy Hamilton produced a stunning diving catch at backward point to dismiss Mandhana off Nandni Sharma in the 17th over. The full-stretch, two-handed take handed the Delhi fielders one of the highlights of the night and left the DY Patil crowd stunned as Mandhana walked back to applause.
Georgia Voll shores up the finish
Mandhana’s big knock was backed by a composed partnership with Georgia Voll, who finished unbeaten to guide RCB over the line. The duo’s big stand effectively ended the contest and ensured RCB wrapped up the chase with overs to spare, extending their unbeaten run in the competition.
Why this innings matters
Beyond the near-miss for personal history, Mandhana’s knock reinforced RCB’s dominance in the early phase of WPL 2026. Her ability to control tempo, rotate strike and accelerate when needed has been central to RCB’s gameplan, and the team’s perfect balance of experience and power is now paying dividends as they push for top spot.
