In-form Delhi eye maiden WPL title
New Delhi, March 16: Inform Delhi Capitals, led by the inspirational Meg Lanning, would hope to be second time lucky and lift their maiden Women’s Premier League title when they take on a plucky Royal Challengers Bangalore in the summit clash here on Sunday.
After missing out on the title in WPL’s inaugural edition last year, losing by seven wickets to Mumbai Indians in the final, DC looked a rejuvenated side this year.
Delhi have been in superb form this year, topping the five-team league standings with 12 points from eight matches.
Lanning has led DC from the front, scoring 308 runs from eight innings, while South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp and Australian left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen are the highest wicket-takers for the side with 11 scalps each.
DC’s only two defeats this season came against Mumbai Indians and UP Warriorz. Leaving aside those two matches, they have enjoyed a near-perfect campaign.
Going into the final, they will definitely start as favourites, having never lost to RCB in four meetings.
But having said that, past results will hardly have any significance in the final. It will be a new day and the side which can withstand pressure and expectations will lift the title.
DC will expect the explosive Shafali Verma to provide them with a quick start alongside Lanning.
Jemimah Rodrigues has been in fine nick in the middle, but Lanning would expect more contributions from the likes of all-rounders Alice Capsey and Kapp.
On the bowling front, Jonassen has been the star performer but the likes of Kapp and Shikha Pandey too have contributed.
RCB, on the other hand, finished third in the league phase after an inconsistent run that yielded eight points from as many games but they clicked when it mattered, knocking out defending champions MI by five runs in the eliminator here on Friday.
All-rounder Ellyse Perry will be key to RCB’s success on Sunday as besides being the highest run-getter with 312 runs, the Australian has been impressive with the ball, scalping seven wickets.