‘Ye dukh kab khatam hoga re’ – Fans react to Bangalore’s fifth consecutive loss in the Women’s T20 League

Delhi Women took on the Bangalore Women in the 11th game of WTL 2023 on March 13 at DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. The former were coming into the game on the back of  an incredible 10-wicket victory over Gujarat in their previous encounter.

Importantly, the team led by Smriti Mandhana, had lost each of its first four games in the competition and could not afford to lose another one because they were close to being eliminated.

How did the match pan out?

Meg Lanning, the captain of the Delhi franchise, chose to field against Bangalore after winning the toss. Shikha Pandey removed Smriti Mandhana in the fifth over as her difficulties intensified. She removed the dangerous Sophie Devine shortly after the first strategic time-out.

Bangalore’s previous matches had surely hampered them as they were going well below five runs an over for the first part of their innings. For the majority of the game, Delhi controlled Bangalore, but Ellyse Perry and Richa Ghosh stepped up their game in the final overs.

Perry scored 67 off 52 balls to end Bangalore innings unbeaten, slamming five sixes and four fours. 74 runs were scored in just 34 balls, thanks to her partnership with Richa Ghosh, who herself hit 37 runs in just 16 balls. It enabled Bangalore to score 150/4.

Alice Capsey got them off to a flying start and Delhi was ahead of Bangalore at all times, thanks to the brilliant start given by her. Shafali Verma couldn’t continue her heroics from the last game. Meg Lanning was the key batter there but she also departed early which was a very rare sight.

During the half-way stage, Jemimah Rodrigues and Marizanne Kapp formed a partnership, and Delhi was operating at high speed. Bangalore used spin and broke the partnership, that was worth 39 off of 36 balls. Bangalore needed to find a method to get back into the game because Delhi only required seven runs per over, and Renuka Singh Thakur was fairly expensive.

But, Mandhana and Co. couldn’t fine a way to take further wickets and Delhi defeated Bangalore by 6 wickets with 2 balls remaining, courtesy of unbeaten partnership between Jess Jonassen and Marixzanne Kapp’s amazing game.

Here’s how fans reacted to another loss for the Bangalore franchise:

Feel for Smriti Mandhana and RCB fans.

One of the most passionate fans! pic.twitter.com/7zWUK7DiXf

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 13, 2023

What do you mean by ‘Feel for Smriti Mandhana’? Don't you know that as a captain she proved to be the biggest failure for RCB this season?

— Vivek Shukla (@vidrohi_offical) March 13, 2023

pic.twitter.com/cahDrfVrV4

— RK (@MahiGOAT07) March 13, 2023

https://twitter.com/RahulSh10190225/status/1635328690539356162?t=AbOIPck7BdZr6ckPVDX-qg&s=19

Different year same RCB.
Smriti mandhana has had 0 impactful performances in big games but gets around unquestioned cuz she's pretty.

— Naman (@97_naman) March 13, 2023

https://twitter.com/Vikram_7777777/status/1635329503168970752?t=o8Pu0pht63zD1VeCS-zDlA&s=19

Mandhana right now pic.twitter.com/0MIh0uQIhh

— Gurjar ji (@Gujjarswm) March 13, 2023

https://twitter.com/noturavgictfan/status/1635329031167180800?t=CN7nisNyOh4jDdK_qXj7sA&s=19

"RCB becomes the 1st team to get eliminated from WPL after csk and RR

— Shaurya (@Kohli_Devotee) March 13, 2023