WPL 2024 - So close but yet so far as RCB lose to DC by 1 run; Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil in tears

Match 17 of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2024 between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) had everything fans wanted - drama, action, wickets, boundaries, and sixes. However, only one team could emerge victorious, and it was the Capitals who found their luck on the very last ball. With this win, DC has secured a spot in the Playoffs along with Mumbai Indians (MI) and is now at the top of the table.

ALSO READ | WPL 2024 - RCB's Shreyanka Patil shines with 4-wicket haul, restricts DC to 181 runs

Despite restricting DC to 181 runs, RCB couldn't secure the crucial win they desperately needed as they fell short by just inches. The last-ball drama saw half-centurion Richa Ghosh getting run out, leaving her and her partner Shreyanka Patil devastated and in tears at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. DC captain Meg Lanning, Jemimah Rodrigues and other players were seen consoling the young players.

RCB lost their captain Smriti Mandhana (5) early, but her new opening partner Sophie Molineux (33) and Ellyse Perry (49) built a strong partnership. While Perry was dropped by Alice Capsey, the running between the RCB pair was dodgy, resulting in Perry's run-out. Molineux later departed, and then a partnership between Sophie Devine (26) and Richa Ghosh (51) took RCB closer. However, after the strategic timeout, Devine was sent back, and the entire burden fell on Richa.

ALSO READ | WPL 2024 - RCB's Asha Sobhana and Shreyanka Patil send back DC openers Shafali Verma and Meg Lanning within overs

With 17 needed off the last over, Richa struck two sixes to bring the equation down to 2 off 1. However, a run-out of the already tired-looking Richa sealed the deal for Delhi.

Earlier, DC openers Meg Lanning (29) and Shafali Verma (23) got off to a good start, followed by Jemimah Rodrigues (58) and Alice Capsey (48) scoring a flurry of runs. While it seemed like the score could have been higher, Shreyanka went on to take a four-wicket haul. DC finished with 181 for 5 in 20 overs. The other wicket was taken by Asha Sobhana, who dismissed Shafali Verma after she posted 54 runs in 6 overs.

Squads:

Delhi Capitals playing XI: Meg Lanning (c), Shafali Verma, Alice Capsey, Jemimah Rodrigues, Marizanne Kapp, Jess Jonassen, Arundhati Reddy, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Shikha Pandey, Radha Yadav, Titas Sadhu

Royal Challengers Bangalore playing XI: Smriti Mandhana (c), Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh (wk), Disha Kasat, Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, Shraddha Pokharkar, Renuka Thakur Singh.