Delhi Capitals sparkle as Royal Challengers Bangalore are beaten

Shafali Verma and captain Meg Lanning share a 162-run opening partnership before Tara Norris takes 5 for 29 in the chase

Mumbai: Delhi Capitals 223-2, Royal Challengers Bangalore 163-8 - Delhi Capitals won by 60 runs

Delhi Capitals kicked off their Women's Premier League campaign with a convincing victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore in Mumbai.

Captain Meg Lanning (72) and Shafali Verma (84) put on 162 for the first wicket to lay the foundations.

Marizanne Kapp (39 not out) and Jemimah Rodrigues (22 not out) helped the Capitals reach 223 for 2 from their 20 overs, the biggest total of the tournament so far.

Tara Norris celebrates dismissing Ellyse Perry (Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

It surpassed the 207 for 5 registered by Mumbai Indians in the tournament's opening game against Gujarat Giants 24 hours earlier.

RCB faced an uphill battle in the second half of the game but they began well, reaching 41 without loss in the fifth over.

But after Alice Capsey dismissed opening pair Smriti Mandhana (35) and Sophie Devine (14), Tara Norris took centre stage to leave the chase in tatters.

Capitals were the only franchise to acquire an associate player during the auction, allowing them to field five overseas players in their playing XI.

Heather Knight offered some late resistance for RCB (Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

And the United States international repaid the faith with 5 for 29 - the first five-for in the competition - to rip through the RCB middle-order.

Ellyse Perry (31) and Disha Kasat (9) were dismissed in her first over, before Richa Ghost and Kanika Ahuja followed in her second - completing a streak of four wickets in her first nine deliveries.

England captain Heather Knight staged a counterattack with a breezy 34 off 21 balls but she became Norris' fifth victim after holing out to Lanning at cover.

Megan Schutt added 30 from 19 as RCB finished on 163 for 8 from their 20 overs, to confirm a 60-run victory for the Capitals.

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