Navi Mumbai: Women’s Premier League Fails to Witness Maiden Century
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) continues to challenge batters, as the quest for a first century in the tournament remains unfulfilled. To date, there have been ten occasions when players have reached scores of 90 or above without converting them into three figures.
On January 17, at the DY Patil Sports Academy, Smriti Mandhana seemed poised to end this drought. The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain dominated against Delhi Capitals and appeared set to become WPL’s inaugural centurion. However, she fell short, getting dismissed on 96 runs from 61 balls. Despite her crucial innings contributing significantly to Bengaluru’s victory, the ongoing narrative of centurion frustration was reignited.
Historically, two players have been dismissed on 99, while Mandhana’s score marks the third instance of a batter being out at 96. This season alone has already featured two instances of players surpassing the 90-run milestone, yet the elusive century still stands unattained.
RCB Dominates in Match Against Delhi
In the match itself, Delhi Capitals initially struggled with the bat, slipping to 10 for 4 at one point, prompting concerns of a quick contest. However, Shafali Verma and Lucy Hamilton’s efforts turned the tide. Verma adjusted her approach to anchor the innings before scoring 62 runs off 41 balls. Hamilton, in contrast, played aggressively, amassing 36 runs off 19 balls as Delhi managed to post 166 runs in their first innings.
Bowling standout performances for RCB came from Lauren Bell and Sayali Satghare, each capturing three wickets. Mandhana and Georgia Voll’s remarkable partnership of 142 runs secured RCB’s continuity in the tournament, marking their fourth consecutive victory of the season, complemented by Mandhana’s 96 and Voll’s unbeaten 54 runs.
