Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Georgia Wareham gave the franchise’s fans a ‘Déjà vu’ moment in the clash against Delhi Capitals (DC) at Chinnaswamy Stadium on February 29. Wareham nearly pulled off an astonishing ‘gravity-defying’ catch that former RCB player AB de Villiers pulled off on the boundary in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 that made jaws drop.
The incident took place in the 11th over of the innings. DC opener Shafali Verma hit a full-pitched delivery from Nadine de Klerk toward the mid-wicket boundary. Wareham who was patrolling the boundaries took a huge leap, stuck her left hand out and managed to throw the ball back in play after she could not hold on to it.
While Wareham was disappointed with herself for not taking the catch, RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana applauded the effort. The players and support staff in RCB dugout were left in awe of Wareham’s sensational effort to save four runs for her team.
But Wareham struggled to contribute with bat or ball in the match. She conceded 13 runs and was taken off the attack. In the run chase of 195, Wareham was dismissed for a single-digit score by Shikha Pandey.
Mandhana says bowlers let RCB down
RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana scored her maiden Women’s Premier League (WPL) half-century but it ended up in a losing cause. After Marizanne Kapp got the better of Mandhana, RCB suffered a collapse and managed to post 169/9, losing the match by 25 runs.
As RCB lost their first match of the season after two back-to-back wins, she blamed her bowlers for the loss.
“The way we bowled in the first two matches, we didn't live up to that with our bowling. But one bad day in such a tournament happens, we have to come back strongly. They were plus 15 but we are in the game, but the chat was if myself and Sophie bat till the 14th over then we have a chance. Women's cricket is progressing, I have been working on increasing my shot range. We won't be too critical, we didn't bowl and field the way we wanted, it happens but we move on,” Mandhana said in the post-match presentation.
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