The final of the second season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL 2024) featured a clash between Delhi Capitals women and Royal Challengers Bangalore women at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Sunday, March 17. Both sides worked vigorously to reach the summit clash of the tournament.
Batting first, Delhi Capitals succumbed to the pressure put on them by RCB. Shafali Verma was the highest run-getter for her side, with 44 runs in the first innings. Capitals posted a total of 113 runs, with Bangalore’s Shreyanka Patil being the highest wicket-taker with four wickets to her name.
Aiming to chase down the target, Royal Challengers Bangalore women got off to a brilliant start. Openers Sophie Devine and Smriti Mandhana scored 32 and 31 runs, respectively. Furthermore, Ellyse Perry finished the job for the side, scoring 35* runs and winning the game by eight wickets to become the WPL 2024 champions.
Here’s what the two captains and the Player of the Match said after the game:
Losing Captain, Meg Lanning, Delhi Capitals, said:
Disappointing to not get it done tonight. We played some good cricket through the tournament. But it was about not playing well on the day. Congratulations to RCB, they outplayed us. But we can be proud of our efforts throughout. (On their batting collapse) It all happened relatively quickly, as it tends to do. Crazy things happen, and every game has been pretty close. You can never sort of rest and think it is under control because there are so many good teams. They (RCB) deserved the win. (On the message to the DC squad) Just that we have played a lot of good cricket. there was a lot of effort that went in from a lot of people. Want to thank the support staff and the back-room staff. A big thank you. You win some, you lose some (in cricket). Unfortunately, it was not to be for us tonight.
Winning Captain, Smriti Mandhana, Royal Challengers Bangalore, said:
The feeling has not sunk in yet, maybe it will take time. Hard for me to come out with a lot of expression. Only thing I want to say is I am proud of the bunch. We have been through ups and downs but they have stuck at it, and the way we have gotten past the line (tonight), it was amazing. Our Bangalore leg was really good. We had two tough losses (in Delhi). That is what we talked about. The last league match was like a quarter, then the semi and then the final. In such tournaments, you have to peak at the right time. Last year taught us a lot of things, as a player, as a captain and as a team. The management, the way they backed me during the review after the season…they have been through a lot and a big thumbs up (to them). For them to have this trophy, it is amazing for them. I am not the only one who has won the trophy, the team has won. For RCB as a franchise to win, it is really, really special. This win is definitely one of the top five maybe. A World Cup (win) would top it. I have a message for all the RCB fans, the most loyal fan base. Nothing would have been possible without their support. Ee Sala Cup Namde always comes up, and now I just want to say Ee Sala Cup Namdu.
Player of the Match, Sophie Molineux, Royal Challengers Bangalore, said:
It was a great match. Finals are always funny games, we knew it was going down to the wire. DC are a great team, they fought all the way. Pretty happy we got over the line. I felt like I was bowing really slow tonight. In tournaments, you have to keep learning (from your mistakes) and look forward to the next game. this one (award) is special. To be picked by RCB after not playing cricket for a while. It is an incredible competition and it is only going to go from strength to strength. Proud to be a part of it.
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