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Shafali Verma's 62 Powers Delhi Capitals to 166 vs RCB in WPL Thriller

Shafali Verma's brilliant 62 off 41 balls rescued the Delhi Capitals innings after early wickets from RCB's Lauren Bell and debutant Sayali Satghare had them in deep trouble. Verma built crucial partnerships with Niki Prasad and Sneh Rana to stabilize the innings. A late blitz from Lucy Hamilton, who scored 36 off just 19 deliveries, propelled DC to a competitive total of 166. RCB's bowlers, led by Bell and Satghare with three wickets each, will now back their batters to chase down the target and remain unbeaten.

Key Points: WPL 2026: Shafali Verma's 62 Lifts Delhi Capitals to 166

  • Shafali Verma's 41-ball 62
  • Lauren Bell's early double-wicket over
  • Lucy Hamilton's 19-ball 36
  • Sayali Satghare's debut double-wicket over
2 min read

WPL 2026: Shafali Verma's brilliant 62 lifts Delhi Capitals to 166 against RCB

Shafali Verma's 62 and Lucy Hamilton's 36 help DC post 166. RCB's Lauren Bell & Sayali Satghare take 3 wickets each. Can RCB chase it?

"Shafali Verma revived the innings with an aggressive approach. - Match Report"

Navi Mumbai, Jan 17

Shafali Verma displayed a batting masterclass, scoring 62 off 41 deliveries, as Lucy Hamilton and Sneh Rana came up with handy contributions to lift Delhi Capitals to a fighting total of 166 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 11th match of the Women's Premier League 2026, here at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy.

At one point, DC seemed likely to finish with a low score, struggling to get to 100. However, a mix of aggressive batting and important contributions from the lower order changed the game.

After Smriti Mandhana won the toss and chose to bowl, Royal Challengers Bengaluru started strong. Lauren Bell made an impressive start, taking out Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt in the first over, leaving DC in trouble. The situation worsened when Sayali Satghare, playing in place of Ellyse Perry, marked her RCB debut in the WPL with a remarkable double-wicket over, dismissing Jemimah Rodrigues and Marizanne Kapp on consecutive balls. With wickets falling quickly, DC faced serious challenges during the powerplay and middle overs.

Shafali Verma revived the innings with an aggressive approach. She took the fight to the RCB bowlers and put together a crucial 59-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Niki Prasad, helping to stabilize the innings while keeping the runs coming. Shafali then joined Sneh Rana for an important 34-run partnership for the seventh wicket, preventing DC from losing all momentum. Along the way, Shafali reached her seventh WPL half-century, eventually scoring 62 runs off 41 balls.

Lucy Hamilton provided a late boost with a quick 36 runs off just 19 balls, helping DC surpass the 150-run mark and move toward a competitive total. DC were ultimately bowled out on the last ball of the innings.

For RCB, Lauren Bell and Sayali Satghare stood out with the ball, each taking three wickets. Prema Rawat captured two wickets, and Nadine de Klerk added one. RCB now needs 167 runs to stay unbeaten this season and secure their fourth win, with the pitch likely to continue favoring the bowlers.

Brief scores: Delhi Capitals 166/10 in 20 overs (Shafali Verma 62, Lucy Hamilton 36; Lauren Bell 3-26, Sayali Satghare 3-27) against Royal Challengers Bengaluru

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Brilliant knock by Shafali, but let's not ignore the lower order contribution. Lucy Hamilton's 36 off 19 was the real game-changer in the end. That's the beauty of WPL - every player can be a match-winner. Great fightback!
A
Aditya G
RCB's bowling was top-class at the start. Lauren Bell and Sayali Satghare destroyed the top order. But DC showed great character. 166 is a very good total on this pitch. RCB's batting needs to be careful, it won't be an easy chase.
S
Sarah B
As a cricket fan from abroad watching WPL, the quality of cricket is fantastic. Shafali Verma is a global talent. But I must say, the article focuses heavily on individual scores. A bit more analysis on the bowling plans or field placements during the recovery would be nice.
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Nisha Z
So proud of Sayali Satghare! Getting a chance because Perry is out and she takes a double-wicket over on debut. That's the spirit! WPL is giving so many domestic players a platform. Jai Ho women's cricket! 🇮🇳
K
Karthik V
The match is perfectly set up. RCB is strong but the pitch is helping bowlers. DC's total is just about par. It will all come down to how Smriti Mandhana starts. If she gets going, RCB wins. If not, DC has a real chance. Can't wait for the second innings!

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