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- DC vs UPW, WPL Highlights: Delhi Capitals beat UP Warriorz to seal Eliminator spot
DC vs UPW, WPL Highlights: Delhi Capitals beat UP Warriorz to seal Eliminator spot
Laura Wolvaardt played the anchor role with a well-measured 47 off 36 deliveries, striking seven boundaries, while Shafali Verma added a cautious 29 as the pair rebuilt after the early loss of Lizelle Lee. Their 73-run partnership put Delhi firmly on course, but a sudden cluster of wickets brought UP Warriorz back into the contest.
From 84 for one, Delhi slipped to 101 for five as Sophie Ecclestone and Deepti Sharma applied pressure through the middle overs. Captain Jemimah Rodrigues, however, remained composed, finishing unbeaten on 34 off 18 balls and striking two decisive boundaries off Deepti in the penultimate over to seal the chase alongside Niki Prasad.
Earlier, Delhi’s bowlers laid the platform by restricting UP Warriorz to 122 for eight. Marizanne Kapp starred with figures of 3 for 30, removing key batters including Deepti Sharma, Charli Knott and Deandra Dottin. Chinelle Henry chipped in with two wickets, while UP struggled to build partnerships after losing skipper Meg Lanning on the first ball of the innings.
Despite late contributions from Simran Shaikh and Shikha Pandey, UP Warriorz fell short, leaving Delhi to move one step closer to a long-awaited WPL title.
- Deepti Sharma 12 (8)
- Charli Knott 7 (9)
Chinelle Henry to Deepti Sharma, Jumps up to beat the bat! Back of a length, on off, and it bounces extra. Deepti Sharma has a fiddle but cannot adjust to the bounce.
Chinelle Henry to Deepti Sharma, Keeps it full, on middle, Deepti Sharma eases it to the fielder at mid off.
Chinelle Henry to Deepti Sharma, FOUR! Deepti Sharma goes over mid on comfortably! Length, on leg, Deepti Sharma stays in her crease and lifts it comfortably over mid on for a boundary.
Chinelle Henry to Deepti Sharma, On a hard length, on leg, Deepti Sharma tries to flick it but gets a blow on her thigh pad. It pitched outside leg. The ball rolls back towards the bowler. Dot.
Chinelle Henry to Deepti Sharma, Length again, on off, Deepti Sharma cuts it to point. The fielder dives to her right and makes a good stop. Dot.
Chinelle Henry to Charli Knott, Good length, on leg, Charli Knott turns it through backward square leg for a run.
- Deepti Sharma 8 (3)
- Charli Knott 6 (8)
Marizanne Kapp to Deepti Sharma, FOUR! Just over mid-wicket! Perhaps a chance. Length, on off, and it keeps a tad low. Deepti Sharma slogs it just over the leaping mid-wicket fielder as the ball races away to the fence.
Marizanne Kapp to Deepti Sharma, Hard length, on off, Deepti Sharma cuts it to the cover fielder.
Marizanne Kapp to Charli Knott, On a length, on middle and leg, Charli Knott turns it through backward square leg for a run.
Marizanne Kapp to Charli Knott, FOUR! She goes aerial and gets the result. Length, outside off, Charli Knott makes room and slashes it over cover for a boundary. That was good intent from Charli Knott.
Marizanne Kapp to Charli Knott, Length, on off, Charli Knott tugs it to the fielder at mid-wicket. Another dot.
Marizanne Kapp to Charli Knott, Some movement for Marizanne Kapp. Length, outside off, with a hint of away movement. Charli Knott has a fiddle but misses.
Marizanne Kapp will steam in from the other end. Regarding the Meg Lanning dismissal, it was not as straight as it initially appeared. Ball Tracking shows the ball clipping the leg stump on umpire's call.
- Deepti Sharma 4 (1)
- Charli Knott 1 (4)
Chinelle Henry to Deepti Sharma, FOUR! Deepti Sharma gets off the mark with a boundary. A touch of class from Deepti. On a length, outside off, Sharma stays back and punches it in the gap behind point for a magnificent boundary.
Chinelle Henry to Charli Knott, Finally runs off the bat. Length, outside off, Charli Knott steers it through backward point for a single.
Chinelle Henry to Charli Knott, UP Warriorz still to get off the mark. Slower one, on off, Charli Knott blocks it back to the bowler.
Chinelle Henry to Charli Knott, Good length again, on off, Charli Knott makes room and slaps it to the cover fielder.
Chinelle Henry to Charli Knott, On a length, on off, Charli Knott blocks it back to the bowler.
A perfect start for the Capitals. Charli Knott walks in next on WPL debut.
Chinelle Henry to Meg Lanning, OUT! LBW! Chinelle Henry strikes straightaway. That's a dream start for any team. On a length, on middle and leg, Meg Lanning stays back and looks to flick it, but misses on the inside edge as the ball hits her pads. A loud appeal and the finger goes up without any hesitation. Meg Lanning has a chat with Deepti Sharma but decides not to take the review. A golden duck for Lanning. Raunak Kapoor mentions on air that this is the first duck for the Aussie veteran in WPL.
All set then. Laura Wolvaardt is doing all the talking in the DC huddle. They are followed by the two UPW openers, Meg Lanning and Deepti Sharma. This pair put on 74 runs together against RCB in the previous game. It won't be Marizanne Kapp to kick things off. Chinelle Henry has been handed the new ball. Lanning to face the first ball. A slip in place. The countdown is done, and away we go...
UP Warriorz (Playing XI) - Meg Lanning (C), Simran Shaikh, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Shipra Giri (WK) (In for Shweta Sehrawat), Deandra Dottin (In for Chloe Tryon), Charli Knott (In for Amy Jones), Sophie Ecclestone, Asha Sobhana, Kranti Gaud and Shikha Pandey.
Delhi Capitals (Unchanged Playing XI) - Shafali Verma, Lizelle Lee (WK), Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues (C), Marizanne Kapp, Chinelle Henry, Niki Prasad, Sneh Rana, Minnu Mani, Sree Charani and Nandni Sharma.
The captain of UP Warriorz - Meg Lanning says that several teams have had success batting first at this venue. She takes positives from the reasonable start with the bat against RCB and feels the focus is on putting together a complete 20-over performance. Lanning adds that the desire to win remains strong. She also mentions that a couple of new players have been given opportunities and believes they will bring fresh energy into the group. Informs that Shipra Giri, Charli Knott and Deandra Dottin are the ones coming into the side for this game.
The captain of Delhi Capitals - Jemimah Rodrigues says that they will bowl first. Adds that she feels that the second innings plays better for them. She adds that she has a good team, and as a captain, it is easy to lead this side. Mentions that they will go with the same team. She adds that they have played the best cricket so far and gave their best. Ends by saying that the credit goes to all of their players, and each game has been a learning experience for them.
TOSS - Meg Lanning and Jemimah Rodrigues are out in the middle. The flip of the coin lands in favour of Rodrigues. Delhi Capitals have elected to BOWL first.
The Warriorz have struggled to find consistency all season. Starts with the bat have rarely been converted, and promising moments have slipped away far too often. Lanning herself admitted the side has failed to maximise good positions, a theme that has haunted them through the tournament.
Sunday’s game against Delhi Capitals is as much about pride as possibility. Qualification remains mathematically alive, but only just. What UP Warriorz can still control is the chance to disrupt another team’s plans and finish the season with purpose.
It has been a stop-start campaign. There have been standout performances, flashes of quality, and the emergence of new contributors. But there have also been games where Delhi failed to close out key moments.
The equation is simple. Beat UP Warriorz and face Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator. Lose, and the season ends. In a tournament defined by fine margins, Delhi finally have clarity. Now they must deliver.
UP Warriorz Women Squad: Meg Lanning(c), Deepti Sharma, Amy Jones(w), Harleen Deol, Chloe Tryon, Shweta Sehrawat, Simran Shaikh, Sophie Ecclestone, Asha Sobhana Joy, Shikha Pandey, Kranti Gaud, Deandra Dottin, Charli Knott, Trisha Gongadi, Phoebe Litchfield, Shipra Giri, Kiran Navgire, Suman Meena, Pratika Rawal
That means winning by more than 150 runs if batting first, or chasing a target in roughly three overs. It is the kind of scenario that exists more on paper than in belief. Yet cricket has a way of holding on to impossibilities until the final ball is bowled.
For UP Warriorz, the task is less about the calculator and more about intent. If this is to be their final match of the season, they will want to leave behind a performance that reflects their potential, not their position on the table.
Rodrigues’ message has remained consistent. The Capitals are still in the tournament, and they will keep fighting. Now, that mindset faces its ultimate examination.
Against UP Warriorz, Rodrigues will need to balance aggression with composure. The match will demand leadership in small moments, smart bowling changes, and calm decision-making under pressure. It is the kind of game that can define a captain’s growth.
That familiarity cuts both ways. Lanning understands Delhi’s strengths, but the Capitals also know her methods. The tactical battle will be subtle, unfolding through field placements, bowling plans, and match-ups.
This is not just a contest between teams. It is a quiet duel of preparation, memory, and adaptation. Delhi will hope that knowing their former skipper does not become a disadvantage.
That means Sunday’s contest will likely be decided by execution rather than conditions. Shot selection, bowling discipline, and fielding intensity will matter more than ever.
In a match where pressure will be heavy on one side and hope faint on the other, the venue promises a fair examination. There will be no excuses, only outcomes.
That adds another layer to an already tense contest. Every boundary, every wicket, and every over could ripple beyond the two teams involved.
This is what final league games are about. Unlikely alliances, nervous calculations, and a sense that the tournament’s direction can shift in a single evening. Sunday’s match may not feature the top teams, but it carries the weight of a knockout long before the playoffs begin.
Delhi, who have reached all three WPL finals so far without lifting the title, will now face Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium on Tuesday, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru awaiting the winner in Thursday’s final.
Laura Wolvaardt anchored the chase with a composed 47 off 36 balls, while Shafali Verma contributed a patient 29 as the pair added 73 for the second wicket. However, Delhi slipped from 84 for one to 101 for five, allowing UP Warriorz a brief opening. Captain Jemimah Rodrigues ensured there were no further twists, finishing unbeaten on 34 off 18 balls and striking crucial boundaries late in the chase.
Earlier, Marizanne Kapp and Chinelle Henry led a disciplined bowling effort to restrict UP Warriorz to 122 for eight, a total that ultimately proved insufficient despite late resistance.
Match Statistics
Venue
BCA Stadium, Vadodara
