Delhi Capitals secured their place in a fourth consecutive TATA WPL final with a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. Led by a clinical all-round performance, the Capitals chased down a target of 169 with 26 balls to spare, setting up a high-stakes summit clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Capitals’ Seamers Strike Early
Opting to bowl first on a fresh Vadodara surface, Delhi Capitals made early inroads through Chinelle Henry and Marizanne Kapp. The DC seamers exploited the conditions perfectly, removing the dangerous Sophie Devine for just 6 runs in the second over. The dismissal was a highlight of the match, courtesy of a sensational one-handed catch by wicketkeeper Lizelle Lee. The Giants’ struggles deepened in the fifth over when Nandni Sharma, the eventual Emerging Player of the Season, struck twice in consecutive deliveries. She first accounted for Anushka Sharma, who had managed 16, before dismissing the Giants’ captain, Ashleigh Gardner, for a golden duck. With the scoreboard reading 59 for the loss of 4 wickets, the Giants were in serious trouble and appeared at risk of a total collapse.
Mooney and Wareham Resurrect the Giants
However, Beth Mooney stood firm, anchoring the innings with a composed and unbeaten 62 off 51 balls. She found vital support in Georgia Wareham, whose counter-attacking knock of 35 off 25 balls injected much-needed momentum into the Giants’ innings. Their partnership helped steady the ship after the early tremors. A late flurry from Kashvee Gautam, who added 18 runs, helped the Giants post a fighting total of 168/7. Despite the recovery, the Capitals’ bowlers remained largely disciplined, though they did concede 19 runs in wides. Chinelle Henry was the standout performer with the ball, finishing with impressive figures of 3 for 30.
Lee and Shafali Set the Tone
The chase was effectively decided in the first six overs of the second innings. After a relatively sedate start, Shafali Verma and Lizelle Lee unleashed a relentless assault on the Gujarat bowlers. The floodgates truly opened in the third over when Rajeshwari Gayakwad was introduced to the attack, conceding 14 runs immediately. Lee and Shafali dismantled the bowling unit, putting on a blistering 89-run opening stand in just 43 deliveries. Lizelle Lee contributed a rapid 43 off 24 balls, while Shafali Verma added 31 off 21. While Georgia Wareham briefly hauled Gujarat back into the contest by dismissing both openers in the eighth over, the damage had been done. The required run rate had already plummeted to below a run-a-ball, leaving the Capitals in complete control.
Rodrigues and Wolvaardt Finish the Job
Skipper Jemimah Rodrigues and Laura Wolvaardt ensured there would be no repeat of their league-stage heartbreaks against the Giants. The pair shared a 68-run partnership, expertly mixing calculated aggression with low-risk strike rotation. Rodrigues was particularly fluent, smashing 41 off 23 balls before falling to Gayakwad in the 15th over with victory well in sight. Marizanne Kapp then joined Wolvaardt and finished the job in style. Wolvaardt remained unbeaten on 32 off 24 balls, and the victory was sealed when Kapp lofted Wareham over long-off for a boundary to end the game in 15.4 overs.
Delhi Capitals’ skipper Jemimah Rodrigues was adjudged the Player of the Match for her leadership and composed batting, guiding her team toward a shot at their maiden TATA WPL trophy in the upcoming final.
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