Sophie Molineux dismisses Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues and England's Alice Capsey in same over as Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Delhi Capitals to win second edition of Women's Premier League; Capitals lose 10 wickets for 49 runs before RCB reach target of 114 in 19.3 overs
Sunday 17 March 2024 18:56, UK
Royal Challengers Bangalore became the second Women's Premier League champions after Sophie Molineux took three wickets in an over to trigger a stunning Delhi Capitals collapse in Sunday's final.
Capitals, also beaten in last year's inaugural final by Mumbai Indians, raced to 64-0 after seven overs through Shafali Verma (44 off 27) and Meg Lanning (23 off 23), only for Australia spinner Molineux (3-20) to strike three times in four balls in the eighth to set RCB on their way to an eight-wicket win.
Molineux had Verma caught on the slog sweep from the first delivery, before bowling Jemimah Rodrigues and England's Alice Capsey for ducks, with Capitals subsequently losing all 10 wickets for 49 runs to be rolled for 113 in 18.3 overs.
Molineux backed up her innings-altering bowling display by running out Radha Jadav (12) with a direct hit, while fellow spinners Shreyanka Patil (4-12) and Asha Sobhana (2-14) also starred.
RCB knocked off their target with three balls to spare - Sophie Devine making 32, opening partner Smriti Mandhana 31 and Ellyse Perry, the leading run-scorer in the tournament with 346 in nine innings, hitting an unbeaten 35.
Delhi kept the run rate in check to stay in the contest, despite only taking two wickets, but Richa Ghosh (17no off 14) smoked the winning boundary over extra-cover as Capitals suffered final heartbreak once again.
Delhi have topped the league phase and secured immediate progression to the final in both seasons so far, edging Mumbai on net run-rate in the first campaign before finishing two points clear of the same side this year.
RCB, who ended up third in the pool stage this term, came through an eliminator against Mumbai on Friday to reach their first final, beating the defending champions by five runs.
RCB's title is the first for the franchise, with their men's team yet to win the Indian Premier League.
Captain Mandhana said: "Bangalore fans are the most loyal... nothing could have happened without them. They have waited for this a very long time."
Perry added of the WPL: "It's pretty bonkers, this is just another level for us and for women's cricket. The support all the teams have had all tournament has been phenomenal."
Watch the Pakistan Super League final between Multan Sultans and Islamabad United live on Sky Sports Cricket from 3.40pm on Monday. Coverage also picks up on Sky Sports Main Event ahead of the first ball at 4pm in Karachi.
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