With a comprehensive seven-wicket victory against Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator in Vadodara on Tuesday, Delhi Capitals put up an all-around performance to prolong their incredible consistency and advance to a fourth straight Women’s Premier League final.
The Delhi Capitals chose to bowl and held the Gujarat Giants to 168/7 before a quick 89-run opening partnership between Shafali Verma (31 off 21 balls) and Lizelle Lee (43 off 24) set the stage for the chase and helped them surpass the target in 15.4 overs.
Verma and Lee launched an offensive, fully utilizing the field limits, and Delhi got off to a fast start. The pair threatened to ruin the chase with 15 boundaries and a six as they sped to 89/0.
However, leg-spinner Georgia Wareham (2/28) staged a quick comeback, dismissing both openers in the same over, just as the two big-hitters were ready to bat Gujarat out of the match.
But Laura Wolvaardt (32 not out) and captain Jemimah Rodrigues (41) showed poise and grace through the middle overs, so the setback did nothing to stop Delhi’s momentum. The pair took their time settling in once the pressure was removed. They then opened up, hitting boundaries with ease to put the chase squarely back on track.
For the Capitals, who will play Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final on Thursday, veteran all-rounder Marizanne Kapp scored the match-winning runs.
Earlier, the Gujarat Giants achieved a competitive total thanks to a calm, undefeated half-century from Beth Mooney. After the Delhi bowlers put the Giants under intense pressure early in the innings, the Australian opener held the innings together with 62 not out off 51 balls, including six boundaries.
Wareham (35), another Australian, provided her with vital support, and the two of them scored a quick 61 runs for the fifth wicket. Then, Mooney and Kashvee Gautam (18) put together another crucial 39-run partnership. Chinelle Henry (3/35), who dismissed the dangerous Sophie Devine (6), gave Delhi an early advantage before Nandani Sharma (2/44) made an instant impression by smashing her first two deliveries in the sixth over.
Anushka Sharma (16), who tried to flick off her pads but only managed a mistimed shot to mid-on, where Henry completed a diving catch, was first taken out by Nandani. She then proceeded with an even larger scalp, causing captain Ashleigh Gardner (0) to produce a thick outside edge, which Sneh Rana safely caught at slip.
When spinners Minnu Mani (1/23) and Rana (0/3) were introduced in the attack, the boundaries dried up despite Mooney’s attempt to counterattack with a four off Nandini. As the pressure increased, Wareham was forced to the crease after Mani had Kanika Ahuja (6) stumped by Lee.
Mooney continued to anchor from the other end as Wareham added momentum to the innings with three boundaries and a six.
But Henry came back to dismiss Wareham and Bharti Fulmali in the same over, just as the Giants seemed to be taking control. DC conceded 103 runs in the final ten overs, but the Giants rallied late in the innings when Mooney and Kashvee reached the boundary in the final overs.
