DC denied again as Mandhana-Voll record stand clinches RCB's second WPL crown

Delhi Capitals suffered their fourth straight heartbreak in a WPL final, losing to Royal Challengers Bengaluru despite posting 203/4. Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll scripted the highest successful run chase in tournament history with a record 165-run partnership, securing RCB's second title.

DC's innings began slowly, with only 9 runs from the first three overs as Lizelle Lee struggled against Lauren Bell. Lee broke free by hammering Sayali Satghare for back-to-back sixes, but fell for 37 to Nadine de Klerk after the PowerPlay. Jemimah Rodrigues then accelerated, scoring a 32-ball fifty to propel DC to 94/2 at the halfway mark.

Despite Rodrigues falling with 25 balls left, Chinelle Henry's explosive hitting—including four consecutive fours and a six in the penultimate over—boosted DC past 200. Laura Wolvaardt added a final-over boundary to set a daunting target.

RCB's chase started shakily as Henry dismissed Grace Harris early. Mandhana faced limited strike initially, but Voll kept boundaries flowing. Mandhana ignited the innings with a four and six in the powerplay finale, taking RCB to 59/0.

The pair dominated, with Mandhana hitting Nandni Sharma for six to bring up 100/1 at the halfway point. Both batters soon reached fifties, and Sneh Rana's over conceding 15 runs further tilted the game. DC briefly rallied as Minnu Mani broke the partnership, and Henry removed Mandhana for 87, but a dropped catch off Radha Yadav proved costly. Needing 10 from the final over, Radha sealed victory with back-to-back boundaries.

Brief scores: Delhi Capitals 203/4 in 20 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 57, Laura Wolvaardt 44) lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru 204/4 in 19.4 overs (Smriti Mandhana 87, Georgia Voll 79; Chinelle Henry 2/34) by 6 wickets.