Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll couldn’t have found a better occasion to produce a partnership for the ages. With the Women’s Premier League trophy up for grabs against Delhi Capitals at the Kotambi Stadium on Thursday, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru pair came together in pursuit of a target of 204 and left the opponent and onlookers in a daze with a sublime show of strokeplay.

The record stand between skipper Smriti and Voll, worth 165 runs, helped RCB clinch its second title in four years. While Smriti caressed her way to a 41-ball 87 (12×4, 3×6), Voll hit 79 (54b, 14×4) as the southern side tracked down the highest target in a WPL final with six wickets in hand and two balls to spare.

The climax wasn’t without its nervous moments as RCB lost three wickets in quick succession. With 10 runs needed by the Bengaluru outfit off the final over, bowled by Shree Charani, a couple of singles were followed by back-to-back fours from Radha Yadav to finish the game in style. Radha was dropped by Minnu Mani in the penultimate over of the chase.

For Jemimah Rodrigues’ DC, a fourth straight runner-up finish will be a bitter pill to swallow.

Despite the dismissal of Grace Harris in the second over, RCB kept up with the asking rate through the partnership between Smriti and Voll. In the initial stages, Smriti didn’t get much strike.

Voll took charge — cheeky ramps behind the wicket, fierce cuts square on the off-side and elegant drives in front all flowed from the Australian’s willow.

Through the middle overs, Smriti came into her own. She deployed her twinkling feet against spin in serene fashion, notably dancing down the track to Shree Charani for a six over long-on in the 11th over.

RCB’s response with the bat overshadowed Jemimah’s 37-ball 57. The rest of the Capitals batters chipped in with brisk contributions.

Laura Wolvaardt (44, 25b, 3×4, 2×6) and Chinelle Henry (35 n.o., 15b, 4×4, 2×6) provided the finishing kick with a blistering stand of 55 off just 24 balls. Wolvaardt also forged a 76-run partnership with Jemimah.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals aren’t in uncharted territory as they gear up for the final of the Women’s Premier League on Thursday. Two seasons ago, it was these two teams that battled for the grand prize at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Smriti Mandhana and Co. emerged victorious then, spreading cheer among a fervent fan base yearning for silverware.

Cut to the present, the circumstances ahead of the final at the Kotambi Stadium differ slightly. Unlike in 2024, RCB qualified for the summit clash this time directly after topping the league standings. It has led to a week-long build-up to the big game for the Bengaluru outfit. To allow the players to unwind for a bit before redirecting their energies to the task at hand, the team enjoyed a three-day breather in Goa immediately after its last game.

Capitals, on the other hand, have had to take a more arduous route. Having finished first in the league phase in the previous three seasons only to lose the final, Jemimah Rodrigues’ side may not mind this scenario. After a feeble beginning to the campaign, the three-time runner-up has found all the pieces of the jigsaw coming together in recent matches.

Besides handling the responsibility of captaincy with poise, Jemimah has exhibited exquisite touch with the willow of late. In a chase of 169 against Gujarat Giants in Tuesday’s Eliminator, the 25-year-old’s 23-ball 41 at No. 4 was essential in shutting out the hosts altogether. Lizelle Lee, Shafali Varma and Laura Wolvaardt are also in sparkling form.

For RCB, the fourth edition has been smooth-sailing. It won its first five games, and suffered a blip in the form of two defeats only after sealing its spot in the playoffs. In addition to Smriti, Grace Harris, Georgia Voll and Richa Ghosh are fully capable of swaying the outcome in RCB’s favour with the bat. For the wickets, RCB will look towards Lauren Bell, Nadine de Klerk and Shreyanka Patil.

Will a repeat of 2024 unfold? Or will Capitals turn the tables? Either way, it will perhaps come down to fine margins.