It was a night of commanding opening partnerships as both Delhi Capitals and UP Warriorz saw their top-order batters lay down strong foundations.
But it was the Capitals who came out on top of another nervy finish to beat the Warriorz by seven wickets in the Women’s Premier League’s (WPL) final league stage match of the Vadodara leg at the Kotambi International Stadium on Wednesday.
Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma hit the ground running with the skipper finding some much-needed form. She pierced the gaps, particularly on the off-side, and stitched a breezy 65-run stand with the Indian opener en route to her match-winning knock of 69 off 49.
Shafali survived a scare after WPL debutant Chinelle Henry, at deep mid-wicket, dropped her off Deepti Sharma’s bowling. But the UPW skipper drew her out again with a length delivery outside off which Henry held on to this time. Jemimah Rodrigues’ shaky start to the season continued after she departed for a two-ball duck.
As it happened | UPW vs DC Highlights
With two quick wickets, the Warriorz received a morale boost but were soon silenced by Lanning and Annabel Sutherland’s blitz. But Grace Harris revived UP’s hopes after she claimed the prized wicket of the well-set Lanning, who moved across her stumps to flick but was castled by a full-length ball.
The Warriorz tried to capitalise on every opportunity but their disappointing fielding effort allowed DC to roar back in the contest. Marizanne Kapp sealed the deal for the Capitals in the last-over finish after diving to safety at the bowler’s end. Sutherland delivered an all-round show, scoring an unbeaten 41 and picking two important wickets.
The Warriorz, who were put in to bat, were given the perfect start by opener Kiran Navgire, who demolished the DC bowling attack. She played the role of aggressor, punishing the slightest of width to the fence and sped to a 24-ball fifty. Opener Vrinda Dinesh contributed to the 65-run first-wicket stand before both fell to Sutherland’s well-executed short, cross-seam deliveries.
Kiran Navgire UP Warriorz hitting a four during match 6 of the Women’s Premier League 2025 (WPL) between The UP Warriorz and The Delhi Capitals held at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara, India on the 19th February 2025.
| Photo Credit:
Sportzpics for WPL
Kiran Navgire UP Warriorz hitting a four during match 6 of the Women’s Premier League 2025 (WPL) between The UP Warriorz and The Delhi Capitals held at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara, India on the 19th February 2025.
| Photo Credit:
Sportzpics for WPL
On a pitch that lacked even bounce, DC bowlers began pounding the ball into the pitch to tempt UP openers to free their arms. While Vrinda couldn’t clear the ball past Jemimah Rodrigues at deep mid-wicket, Navgire, who had been miscueing the short balls throughout, got a top-edge to Shafali Verma at deep fine leg.
The Capitals quickly came back into the game courtesy of Sarah Bryce’s quick stumpings. Both Tahlia McGrath and skipper Deepti stepped out swinging for the hills but were beaten by the spin, with the Scottish wicketkeeper doing the rest. The Warriorz had suddenly lost four wickets in the span of 12 runs.
Shweta Sehrawat, promoted up the order, displayed her crafty strokes and helped UP regain stability. She found an able partner in Henry, who hammered veteran Shikha Pandey for 20 runs in four balls. The youngster tried to power Kapp’s slower off-cutter past deep mid-wicket but sent it straight to Jemimah.
A run out off the last ball meant the Warriorz had to settle for a decent 167 but couldn’t maximise on the promising start, exiting the leg without a point and at the bottom of the table.