RCB-W fall agonizingly short of the finish line against DC to concede 1-run loss

A thrilling game finished with a heartbreak in Delhi as Richa Ghosh’s valiant effort faltered in the dying embers, helping Delhi Capitals to the play-offs despite a late scare. Chasing 182, RCB-W totted up 180 as Ghosh fell short of the non-striker’s end and was dismissed run out with her side needing 2 runs off the final ball.

Winning the toss, Meg Lanning opted to bat first and DC were off to a flyer in no time. The captain led the charge with a brilliant 29 off 26 while Shafali Verma fell for a 18-ball-23. It was Asha Sobhana who got the first breakthrough for RCB with a loopy floater outside the off-stump while Verma went all guns blazing at it only to sky one to Sophie Molineux at backward point.

Shreyanka Patil struck in quick succession as she managed to leave Meg Lanning stranded in front of the stumps with a quicker one that skidded off the surface and would have crashed onto the middle and leg stump. However, post the scalp of Lanning, the RCB-W bowlers couldn’t really find a gateway to reel in the Capitals as Jemimah Rodrigues and Alice Capsey managed to stabilize the ship first and then drive it ashore, riding high on waves of imperious dominion.

Rodrigues blasted a 36-ball-58 while Capsey rocked a 32-ball-48 to knit together a 97-run stand for the third wicket before Shreyanka Patil sneaked through the defences of two set batters. Patil finished on a blaze of glory as she added another scalp to her already bedecked figures, leaving Jess Jonassen short of the popping crease by the time Richa got the bails off. Delhi finished their innings with a total of 181/5. Patil was the pick of the RCB lot with figures of 4/26.

Chasing 182, the Royal Challengers had some early troubles to address as Capsey got rid of Smriti Mandhana for cheap. However, there was a shuffle in the batting order for RCB as Sophie Molineux was asked to open the innings alongside the skipper.

Molineux came out in blazing colours alongside an incoming Ellyse Perry as the runs started coming in. Molineux scored a well-orchestrated 33 while Pez hammered a 32-ball-49 with the duo adding 80 runs for the second wicket. Despite the scoring rate being at an all time high, the running between the wickets never really lived up to the promise and that cost Perry dearly as she fell for a breezy 49.

To make matters worse, Molineux departed soon after for 33 as the challenges started growing worse. However, Richa Ghosh and Sophie Devine decided to take over the reins as they reshaped the innings and got the cannons out in no time with RCB-W getting back on track for what could have been a memorable chase. Devine powered to a 16-ball-26 before falling to Marizanne Kapp while Georgia Wareham holed out to Arundhati Reddy for a 6-ball-12.

However, there was still ample drama in store as Richa Ghosh whacked two gigantic sixes while chasing 17 runs in the final over. With two needed off one, Ghosh swung her bat against Jess Jonassen only to find Shafali Verma at point, who fired the ball back in no time. Jonassen’s experience helped her calm to prevail as she was able to dislodge the bails just in the nick of time before Richa could dash to the crease.

Ghosh’s 29-ball-51 was certainly the highlight of the innings as she and Shreyanka broke down in tears after agonizingly falling short of a historic chase. With this defeat RCB-W still remained in the race for play-offs as they have six points from seven matches and a superior NRR of +0.027 which places them ahead of UP Warriorz. They will be up against Mumbai Indians for their final match that will have everything to play for.