WPL 2025: Smriti Mandhana Praises Bowlers for Keeping DC Under 150
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Synopsis
In a dominant display, RCB's bowlers restricted DC to 141 runs, allowing Smriti Mandhana's team to claim an eight-wicket victory in the WPL 2025. The captain praised her bowlers for their impressive performance and expressed confidence in the team's potential for improvement.
Key Takeaways
- RCB bowlers excelled, limiting DC to 141.
- Smriti Mandhana scored her highest WPL total with 81.
- Renuka Singh Thakur earned the Purple Cap.
- Danni Wyatt-Hodge highlighted strong team collaboration.
- Meg Lanning acknowledged DC's need for improvement.
Vadodara, Feb 17 (NationPress) After the reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured a commanding eight-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals, ascending to the top of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 standings, skipper Smriti Mandhana commended the bowlers for their exceptional effort in limiting their rivals to below 150 runs.
At the Kotambi Stadium on Monday, pacer Renuka Singh Thakur and leg-spinner Georgia Wareham each took three wickets, showcasing an outstanding bowling display as RCB bowled out DC for just 141 runs. They received valuable support from Kim Garth and Ekta Bisht, who claimed two wickets each.
In response, spearheaded by Smriti’s remarkable 81, her highest score in WPL, RCB completed the chase with 22 balls remaining. “I’m very pleased. The bowlers did a fantastic job keeping DC below 150 runs. We saved 15-20 runs through our fielding. Danni was exceptional. Our strategy was to focus on pace, depending on the conditions,” she stated.
“Baroda requires different approaches in each match. Renuka and Joshitha were outstanding. As a team, we take pride in our performance. Ekta also played a crucial role. Danni and I have a strong understanding of each other’s gameplay. The bowlers executed their plans excellently, and the runs followed,” Smriti added after the match.
Renuka, whose figures of 3-23 earned her the Purple Cap, attributed her success to her dedication to improving her fitness. “I cherish the memories associated with this ground. I was awarded Player of the Match twice in my last series here,” she remarked.
“I’ve put in significant work on my bowling technique. I’m also enhancing my pace and outswing. I prioritize my physical conditioning. At times, I bowl wide of the crease and drift down leg, so I’m adjusting my line to be closer to the stumps,” she explained.
Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who partnered with Smriti in a 107-run opening stand, emphasized their intent to start aggressively. “We aimed to achieve two from two, and we succeeded. I had the best view as Smriti played so brilliantly. Both the bowling and our catching were excellent,” she noted.
“She maintains my composure. Smriti acted as my coach tonight, which was beneficial. We’ve played together for Southern Brave and understand each other’s styles. RCB is a wonderful franchise, very welcoming. The pitch was on the slower side. She kept advising me to step forward, as I was leaning back. It’s a pleasure to bat alongside her,” Danni added.
The eight-wicket drubbing of DC left captain Meg Lanning disheartened, stating the batters failed to perform. “It wasn’t our best performance. We started decently but lost wickets too rapidly. RCB bowled effectively to restrict us. It’s disappointing. While some batters got established, they couldn’t convert. We must improve significantly moving forward,” she remarked.
“There are numerous areas for improvement from our opening match. We had moments of competitiveness, but tonight was not our finest hour. We need to regroup and return stronger. Batting conditions improved in the evening. However, RCB capitalized on their opportunities and bowled exceptionally well. The dew didn’t influence the game; RCB simply outperformed us tonight,” she concluded.
