Delhi Capitals survived a late scare but eventually claimed a five-wicket victory over UP Warriorz to secure their place in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
The win, achieved with eight balls to spare, also knocked defending champions Mumbai Indians out of contention, emphasizing Delhi’s consistent dominance in the tournament.
The Capitals will now face the Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium.
The match in Vadodara initially seemed to favor Delhi as their bowling unit dismantled the UP Warriorz lineup early.
Chinelle Henry struck first, dismissing Meg Lanning for a golden duck, while Marizanne Kapp picked up three crucial wickets, restricting the opposition to 122 for 8.
Despite late contributions from Shikha Pandey and Simran Shaikh, the total remained manageable for Delhi.
Sree Charani also impressed, finishing with figures of 2/22 in her four overs, maintaining pressure throughout the innings.
Chasing 123, the Delhi Capitals appeared in control thanks to a fluent knock by Laura Wolvaardt, who scored 47 runs, including seven boundaries, despite surviving a few dropped catches.
Shafali Verma provided support, and the opening partnership of 38 runs in the powerplay laid a solid foundation. However, Delhi then experienced a mini-collapse, losing three wickets for just four runs, bringing tension into the game.
At this crucial stage, Jemimah Rodrigues showcased her class and composure. She anchored the innings with an unbeaten 34 off 18 balls, expertly rotating the strike and finding gaps when required.
Rodrigues’ innings calmed the nerves and guided the team past the finish line with two overs remaining, ensuring Delhi Capitals continued their WPL campaign into the knockout stages.
This victory marked yet another historic milestone for Delhi Capitals, as they remain the only franchise to reach the playoffs in every WPL season.
The comprehensive team performance highlighted both batting depth and bowling control, with early breakthroughs and disciplined death bowling proving decisive.
For UP Warriorz and Mumbai Indians, the result signaled the end of their campaigns, while Delhi’s confidence surged heading into the Eliminator against Gujarat Giants.
With a clinical display under pressure and standout contributions from Wolvaardt, Kapp, Henry, and Rodrigues, the Delhi Capitals have set a high benchmark for the playoffs.
The team now looks forward to continuing their WPL 2026 journey, aiming to finally lift the trophy after three previous final appearances.
