Dominant DC halt RCB's perfect start

Led by an all-round bowling display, Delhi Capitals clinched their third win of the ongoing WPL season, ending Royal Challengers Bengaluru's five-match unbeaten run.

Marizanne Kapp led the bowling effort, controlling the scoring rate in the powerplay and dismissing Grace Harris and Georgia Voll cheaply. She nearly had Smriti Mandhana trapped lbw on 4 in her opening over but overstepped.

Mandhana struggled early, scoring only five runs off her first 13 balls, but found momentum with a couple of boundaries in the third over and again against Nandni Sharma. Despite a steady start of 36 runs in five overs, RCB's collapse began when Harris's leading edge was caught by Laura Wolvaardt.

Just as Mandhana seemed to be controlling the innings on a tricky surface, she holed out to deep square leg off Minnu Mani, who returned to the side for this match. Mani took two wickets to sustain the pressure through the middle overs. By the 13th over, she had Richa Ghosh caught at backward point, reducing RCB to 78 for 5.

Radha Yadav counter-attacked but was caught behind off a short delivery from Chinelle Henry. Henry and Nandni Sharma used slower balls effectively on a surface where the ball kept low, making timing difficult. Henry took two wickets, while Nandni Sharma claimed three as RCB were bowled out for 109.

In response, Shafali Verma hit four boundaries for a brisk start but was stumped by Richa Ghosh. Sayali Satghare struck again, dismissing Lizelle Lee with a sweep caught at deep square leg.

RCB missed a chance in the powerplay when Satghare dropped a regulation catch at short third with Jemimah Rodrigues on 4. Rodrigues made them pay, crafting a 26-ball 24. Her 52-run stand with Wolvaardt for the third wicket formed the backbone of the chase.

Rodrigues fell in the 12th over, mistiming a shot, but Marizanne Kapp and Laura Wolvaardt ensured no comeback for RCB, wiping out the remaining runs in the next four overs. With this win, Capitals moved to second on the points table.

Brief scores: Royal Challengers Bengaluru 109 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 38, Radha Yadav 18; Nandni Sharma 3-26, Marizanne Kapp 2-17) lost to Delhi Capitals 111/3 in 15.4 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 42*, Jemimah Rodrigues 24; Sayali Satghare 2-18) by 7 wickets.