Delhi Capitals laboured in a modest run chase but eventually crossed the line, beating UP Warriorz by five wickets to book their place in the Women’s Premier League Eliminator in Vadodara on Sunday.
Defending champions Mumbai Indians were eliminated from the race to the WPL playoffs by Delhi’s victory, which came with five wickets and eight balls remaining.
The Gujarat Giants will take on the Delhi Capitals in the Eliminator here at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium on Tuesday. The Delhi Capitals have been in all three of the WPL finals thus far but have never advanced past the finish line. On Thursday, the victor will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
DC dropped from 84/1 to 101/5 while chasing 123, scoring 126/5.
When the winning runs in the low-scoring match were scored, captain Jemimah Rodrigues (34 not out off 18 balls; 5 fours) and Niki Prasad (4 not out) were on the crease. After limiting UPW to 122/8, Delhi’s run chase was anchored by Laura Wolvaardt’s 36-ball 47 with seven fours and Shafali Verma’s patient 29.
Following an early blow from Lizelle Lee (10), Shafali and Wolvaardt put on 73 off 64 balls for a strong comeback. Despite possessing two of the top spinners in the world, Sophie Ecclestone (4-0-20-1) and Deepti Sharma (3.4-0-27-2), UPW was unable to challenge the Capitals, who had faltered close to the finish line.
DC was on the verge of an easy victory with Shafali and Wolvaardt, but they quickly lost wickets, giving UPW hope for a comeback. However, captain Jemimah prevented any further problems by hitting two consecutive fours against Deepti in the last over.
Earlier, Marizanne Kapp (3/30) and Chinelle Henry (2/25) delivered the goods as Delhi Capitals reduced a woeful UP Warriorz to a measly 122/8. Meg Lanning, the captain of UP Warriorz, was dismissed on the opening ball of the innings. The team was unable to build any momentum and continued to lose wickets.
Charli Knott (12), Deandra Dottin (5), and opener Deepti Sharma (24) were all accounted for by Kapp. Simran Shaikh, 22, was also dismissed by Henry after she made threats to reverse the situation for UPW. Star India all-rounder Deepti opened the innings with a 19-ball 24, for which she hit four fours and a six, in an attempt to generate early impetus.
However, UPW’s inability to establish a partnership harmed their cause. With a quick 14-ball 22 with three fours, Simran Shaikh attempted to turn the tide of the innings, but she too fell at the wrong time for UPW. Shikha Pandey (23 not out) delivered a helpful knock late in the innings.
