WPL Eliminator: Lee-Shafali onslaught takes Delhi Capitals to final

Delhi Capitals stormed into the final of the fourth edition of the Women’s Premier League with a seven-wicket victory over Gujarat Giants at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Tuesday. Openers Lizelle Lee (43, 24b; 8x4; 1x6) and Shafali Verma (31, 21b; 7x4) provided the launchpad for Capitals’ chase of 169 with a scintillating first-wicket partnership.They hammered 75 runs in the Powerplay to help the Capitals cruise home in 15.4 overs with seven wickets to spare. The duo fell in the eighth over to leg-spinner Georgia Wareham but Laura Wolvaardt (32*, 24b; 2x4; 1x6) and captain Jemimah Rodrigues (41, 23b; 4x4; 1x6) played sensibly to take Capitals closer to victory. Capitals required only nine runs when Jemimah was dismissed. Marizanne Kapp took them to victory with a four in the 16th over. The Capitals are in the final for the fourth year in succession and will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the title clash at the same venue on Thursday. Earlier, Nandani Sharma produced another brilliant Powerplay spell to peg Giants back. In her first over, she removed the in-form Anushka Sharma and captain Ashleigh Gardner off successive deliveries to leave the Giants in dire straits.Despite the early setbacks, opener Beth Mooney steadied the Giants innings with a well-compiled halfcentury and took them to a competitive total of 168/7 in their 20 overs. Mooney made 62 from 51 balls, a knock studded with five fours.For a prolonged stretch, boundaries eluded the Giants and the run rate stagnated.However, Mooney’s presence gave them hope. After 33 balls of attrition, the opener finally lofted a full delivery straight down the ground for a four. She forged a vital partnership of 61 from 46 balls for the fifth wicket with Georgia Wareham (35 off 25).Brief Scores: Delhi Capitals 169/3 in 15.4 ovrs (Lizelle Lee 43, Jemimah Rodrigues 41; Georgia Wareham 2-28) bt Gujarat Giants 168/7 (Beth Mooney 62*; Chenille Henry 3/35) by 7 wic