New Delhi: The 162-run stand between DC openers Shafali Verma and Meg Lanning helped the team to score 223 for 2. The batters looked unstoppable against a formidable pace attack of RCB and Shafali managed 84 off 45 while Lanning scored 72 off 43. Marizanne Kapp’s lofty sixes ensured a perfect finish for the Capitals.
There were boundaries raining at the Brabourne Stadium and fans must have had a blast watching DC bat. This is the second-highest total in the Women’s T20 franchise history after 242/4 by Sydney Sixers in 2017.
While Renuka Thakur began with just three runs in her first over, Shafali and Lanning changed gears from the second over onward. As soon as Smriti Mandhana introduced spin with Preeti Bose, Shafali went on to hit the first six of the inning.
In ger 84-run inning, Shafali hit a total of 10 fours and 4 sixes while Meg Lanning hit 14 fours, out of which many were consecutive. The pace attack having Renuka Thakur, Megan Schutt and Ellyse Perry had a hard time bowling.
It was Heather Knight in the 15th over, who dismissed both Lanning and Verma to give a blow to the DC camp. Knight first hit Lanning’s leg stump, then went on with a far-off delivery to Shafali, which she edged into Richa Ghosh’s hands.
The run rate, however, did not go down as Marizanne Kapp and Jemimah Rodrigues scored boundaries as soon as they entered the crease. Kapp was handy with her sixes and got 3 fours and 3 maximums in her 39* off 17. Jemimah did not fear to even scoop the ball and also hit two crucial boundaries in the last over, to score 22* off 15.
DY Patil Stadium and Brabourne are known for big totals and with RCB’s batting line-up having the likes of Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry and Richa Ghosh, it will be a close battle. With such batting-friendly pitches, WPL might witness more 200+ scores, which might attract more audience, but the tournament might be a nightmare for some bowlers.
