Royal Challengers Bengaluru Triumph in Thrilling WPL Final Against Delhi Capitals

RCB Claims Second WPL Title

In Vadodara, Gujarat, Royal Challengers Bengaluru made history by securing their second Women's Premier League (WPL) title, overcoming the Delhi Capitals led by Jemimah Rodrigues in a thrilling final.

This victory marks RCB's first title win in the 2024 season.

Skipper Smriti Mandhana delivered a stellar performance, scoring 87 runs and forming a crucial partnership of 165 runs with Georgia Voll, who contributed 79 runs off 54 balls. Their efforts enabled RCB to chase down a challenging target of 204 runs. Mandhana's score is now the highest recorded in a WPL final at the BCA Stadium.

Post-match, Grace Harris shared that her motivational speech before the game set a positive tone for the team. She also mentioned being inspired by tennis legend Roger Federer.

Harris stated, "I told the girls that this opportunity comes once, so seize it. I might have tried to be clever by quoting Roger Federer, one of my favorite athletes. I aimed to inject some energy into what was already an exciting match," as reported by a sports media outlet.

She acknowledged the electric atmosphere created by the RCB fans, saying, "It’s not every day you play in a WPL final, and the crowd's support was incredible. The first half was challenging, but we bounced back well." Regarding her catch to dismiss Lizelle Lee, she remarked, "That was the easiest part of my night. I trust my catching abilities, so I should be able to take them easily."

Fast bowler Lauren Bell reflected on the tense moments as RCB narrowly secured their victory in a match where both teams scored over 200 runs.

Bell commented, "It was a bit nerve-wracking, but I was relieved to cross the finish line. What a thrilling game! It had its ups and downs, but we executed our chase well, thanks to the outstanding performances from Georgia and Smriti. I’ve never experienced a match so close before, and the fans have been waiting a long time for this final. It was truly special to witness, and I’m thrilled we emerged victorious."

Looking back on her time with RCB, Bell expressed her enjoyment of the journey, stating, "I’ve loved every moment. Ending it with a win is fantastic, and the entire month has been wonderful, thanks to the girls and coaching staff."

Georgia Voll shared her thoughts on her innings under pressure after the WPL final, emphasizing the importance of batting deep and trusting the team's finishing capabilities. Coming in at 9/1 during the chase, she noted, "Our plan was straightforward: bat as long as possible on a good wicket. We had excellent finishers, so if we could last, we could finish strong."

Voll expressed disappointment at not finishing the chase alongside Mandhana but took pride in the team's overall performance throughout the season.

"It was disappointing not to finish together, but full credit to the team for a great season. As for my innings, it ranks high, though it would have been better to finish it off. I struggled to hit the ball well for most of the season, so performing in the final was incredibly special," Voll added.

When asked about Mandhana's performance, Voll said, "Watching her play is amazing, especially from the other end. She is one of the cleanest hitters I’ve ever seen, and sharing the wicket with her while contributing to the target was a special experience. I was definitely a bit nervous at the end; I should have stayed out there longer to avoid that."