Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll chose the grandest stage possible to script a partnership that will be remembered as one of the finest in Women’s Premier League history. With the WPL trophy on the line at the Kotambi Stadium on Thursday, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru duo produced a breathtaking display of batting to guide their side to a dramatic title win over Delhi Capitals.
Chasing a daunting target of 204, RCB were under pressure early, but skipper Smriti Mandhana and Australian batter Georgia Voll combined to turn the final on its head. Their record-breaking stand of 165 runs laid the foundation for RCB to clinch their second WPL title in four years, as they overhauled the highest total ever chased in a WPL final with six wickets in hand and two balls to spare.
Mandhana anchored the innings with a sublime 87 off just 41 balls, while Voll played the aggressor’s role with a fluent 79 from 54 deliveries, laced with 14 boundaries. Even the early dismissal of Grace Harris in the second over did little to disrupt RCB’s momentum, as the pair kept pace with the steep asking rate.
In the early phase of the chase, Voll dominated proceedings. She unveiled a wide range of strokes, mixing inventive ramps behind the wicket with fierce cuts and crisp drives. Mandhana, meanwhile, took time to settle, rotating strike and allowing her partner to dictate terms.
As the innings progressed, Mandhana began to assert herself, especially against spin. Her use of footwork was a highlight, none more so than when she danced down the track to Shree Charani in the 11th over to loft a six over long-on, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.
The closing stages were not without tension. RCB lost four wickets in quick succession, and the equation came down to 10 runs required from the final over, bowled by Shree Charani. After two singles, Radha Yadav sealed the contest with back-to-back fours. Radha had earlier enjoyed a slice of luck, having been dropped by Minnu Mani in the penultimate over.
For Delhi Capitals, the defeat meant a fourth consecutive runner-up finish, a painful outcome after a strong batting effort. Jemimah Rodrigues top-scored with a 37-ball 57, while Laura Wolvaardt (44 off 25) and Chinelle Henry (35 not out off 15) added late impetus with a rapid 55-run stand.
In the end, though, the night belonged to Mandhana and Voll, whose partnership transformed a high-pressure final into a showcase of fearless, elegant batting and delivered Royal Challengers Bengaluru a memorable championship triumph.
