Did WPL 2026 See Wolvaardt’s 42 Not Out Lead DC to Victory Over RCB?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Laura Wolvaardt played a key role with her unbeaten 42.
- The victory marked the end of RCB’s unbeaten run.
- Delhi Capitals improved their position in the points table.
- RCB finished with 109 all out, their lowest this season.
- Fielding errors by RCB contributed to their defeat.
Vadodara, Jan 24 (NationPress) Laura Wolvaardt delivered an impressive performance, scoring 42 not out, as the Delhi Capitals defeated the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, ending their unbeaten streak with a seven-wicket win in the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) match at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Saturday.
In pursuit of a target of just 110 runs, DC achieved their goal with 4.2 overs remaining, propelling them to second place in the points table and enhancing their Net Run Rate. Shafali Verma initiated a strong start before being dismissed along with Lizelle Lee in consecutive overs from pacer Sayali Satghare.
Captain Jemimah Rodrigues (24) and Laura stabilized the innings with a solid partnership of 52 runs. They capitalized on fielding mistakes by RCB, who dropped catches and allowed runs through misfields. Although Jemimah was dismissed before the chase concluded, Marizanne Kapp (19 not out) joined Laura to secure the victory for Delhi Capitals.
RCB, having already qualified for the playoffs, struggled throughout the match, finishing with 109 all out—their lowest score of the season. Meanwhile, DC celebrated their second consecutive victory, strengthening their playoff ambitions.
Shafali got DC off to a flying start, hitting three boundaries off Lauren Bell in the opening over, amassing 16 runs. However, her stumping in the second over hindered their momentum. Lizelle followed suit, falling to Sayali as well.
Laura Wolvaardt and Jemimah Rodrigues then built a steady innings, scoring runs through careful strokes and exploiting RCB's fielding errors. Jemimah was dropped twice while finding her rhythm, striking successive boundaries off Arundhati Reddy, while Laura consistently added runs with singles and occasional fours.
Despite Jemimah's dismissal caught at extra-cover off Radha Yadav, the duo of Marizanne and Laura ensured a smooth finish. Marizanne scored clean boundaries off both Lauren and Radha, while Laura hit a four and a six each off Lauren and Georgia Voll. The target was achieved in the 16th over when Marizanne swept Shreyanka Patil for four, clinching a decisive win for DC and improving their net run rate.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 109 all out 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 not out, Jemimah Rodrigues 24; Sayali Satghare 2-18, Radha Yadav 1-10) by seven wickets