In a crucial Women's Premier League encounter at Vadodara, Delhi Capitals showcased a comprehensive team performance to defeat UP Warriorz by five wickets and secure their place in the upcoming Eliminator match. The victory sets up a high-stakes clash against Gujarat Giants, with the winner earning the right to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the WPL 2026 final scheduled for February 5.
Bowling Brilliance Sets the Foundation
The match's outcome was heavily influenced by Delhi Capitals' disciplined bowling attack that restricted UP Warriorz to a modest total of 122/8 in their allotted 20 overs. The early breakthroughs came thick and fast, with the visitors finding themselves in deep trouble at 52/5 by the halfway mark of their innings.
Marizanne Kapp's Masterclass
South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp delivered a spell of exceptional quality, claiming three crucial wickets while conceding just 30 runs in her four overs. Her versatility as a seam bowler was on full display as she employed different strategies to dismiss key opposition batters.
Kapp's victims included:
- Deepti Sharma, deceived by a clever slower delivery
- Charlie Knott, caught behind off a well-directed short ball
- Deandra Dottin, trapped leg-before by a sharp in-swinger
Supporting Cast Shines
Kapp received excellent support from her bowling colleagues. Chinelle Henry made an immediate impact by dismissing UP Warriorz captain Meg Lanning with the very first ball of the match and later removed the dangerous Simran Sheikh. Left-arm spinner Shree Charani maintained her impressive tournament form with economical figures of 2/22 from her four overs.
The collective bowling effort ensured that no UP Warriorz batter could reach 25 runs, and the highest partnership of the innings was a modest 29-run stand between Knott and Sharma for the second wicket.
Batting Chase with Minor Hiccups
Chasing a target of 123, Delhi Capitals appeared to be cruising toward victory during the middle overs before experiencing some nervous moments toward the end of their innings.
Solid Foundation Laid
After the early dismissal of Lizelle Lee, Shafali Verma and Laura Wolvaardt constructed a match-defining partnership of 73 runs from just 64 deliveries. While Verma displayed uncharacteristic restraint in her 29 off 33 balls, Wolvaardt played with elegant aggression, scoring 47 from 36 deliveries with seven boundaries that kept the required run rate comfortably within reach.
Captain's Calm Intervention
The match took an unexpected turn when both set batters fell within two overs of each other, triggering a mini-collapse that saw Delhi Capitals slip from 84/1 to 101/5. With tension mounting, skipper Jemimah Rodrigues stepped up with a composed unbeaten 34 from just 18 deliveries, guiding her team to victory in the penultimate over with five wickets in hand.
Rodrigues' calm demeanor under pressure ensured Delhi Capitals maintained their perfect record of reaching the playoffs in every edition of the Women's Premier League since its inception.
Looking Ahead
With this victory, Delhi Capitals have earned the right to face Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator match. The winner of that contest will advance to challenge Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the WPL 2026 championship title. The Capitals' balanced performance—featuring both bowling discipline and batting resilience—makes them serious contenders as the tournament reaches its business end.
The match summary reflects Delhi Capitals' dominance: UP Warriorz 122/8 in 20 overs (Deepti Sharma 24; Marizanne Kapp 3/30) lost to Delhi Capitals 126/5 in 18.4 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 47, Jemimah Rodrigues 34 not out, Shafali Verma 29; Deepti Sharma 2/27) by 5 wickets.
