Here's Sampath with an astonishing stat: Nine wickets by RCB spinners today are the most by any team's spinners in a WPL game. Previous highest was 8 by UPW vs RCB last year.
9pm Spin it to win it? That seems to be the mantra so far, with nine of the ten wickets falling to spin. Molineux started it all off with an extraordinary three-wicket over, sending Shafali, Rodrigues and Capsey back to the shed. Shreyanka then snapped up Lanning, with Asha later accounting for Kapp and Jonassen in the same over.
What made it even more incredible was that this was on the back of a powerplay that saw DC race away to 61-0. During that phase, Shafali called the shots, and the Capitals seemed set for an imposing total. They just fell away after that, and while much of it was down to how RCB bowled, the Capitals did not cover themselves in glory with their shot selection and, in one situation, their running between the wickets.
If the Capitals are to defend this, this will be the lowest total ever defended in the WPL. Crazier things have happened, especially because of the pressure of the final. But surely the Capitals are well short? Join us in a bit for the run-chase!
Shreyanka Patil, Purple Cap holder: I really enjoyed bowling in the middle. They got a really good start but we did not let our guard down. We said it was a matter of a wicket. When we got the first, it was about the next and we kept fighting. Enjoyed each and every moment of the first innings. There was something in the wicket. If there is a little turn, I feel I am a different beast. (On her left hand being heavily strapped) Playing against MI in Bangalore, I got a hairline fracture. The team management and the physio team really worked hard to get me back on the field and huge credit to them. When I played against Australia, Pez (Perry) came up to me and told I would get a lot to learn from Sophie. Big match player and she turned up (tonight).
T Bhatia c †Ghosh b Patil 0 (2m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0
Taniya is the last batter in
A Reddy b Patil 10 (16m 13b 0x4 0x6) SR: 76.92
Right. Two overs left. Can the Capitals somehow smuggle their way to 130? Shreyanka to bowl the 19th
END OF OVER:18 | 6 Runs | DC-W: 111/8 | RR: 6.16
- Arundhati Reddy8 (11b)
- Shikha Pandey5 (5b)
- Sophie Molineux4-0-20-3
- Asha Sobhana3-0-14-2
Molineux to bowl out. She has been sensational tonight, with the ball and in the field
END OF OVER:17 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | DC-W: 105/8 | RR: 6.17
- Shikha Pandey2 (2b)
- Arundhati Reddy5 (8b)
- Asha Sobhana3-0-14-2
- Georgia Wareham3-0-16-0
Pandey is the new batter in
RP Yadav run out 12 (15m 9b 2x4 0x6) SR: 133.33
Vaibhav: "Joining in late night from Sydney, shocked to see the collapse. Is it the pitch or just poor batting? What's the defendable total here?" -- A combination of a pitch that has gripped, poor shot selection and tight bowling. If the Capitals can get to 140, they can make a match out of this.
