Delhi Capitals punched their ticket to the Eliminator after clinching a gritty five-wicket win against UP Warriorz in the final league match of the TATA WPL 2026. This high-pressure showdown, staged at Vadodara’s BCA Stadium on February 1, did more than just cement Delhi’s postseason dreams—it officially ended Mumbai Indians’ hopes of defending their title, knocking them out of the tournament.
Marizanne Kapp and Chinelle Henry Set the Tone
The foundation of Delhi Capitals’ victory was laid in the first half of the match through a disciplined and clinical bowling performance. After winning the toss and electing to field, the Capitals immediately applied pressure. Chinelle Henry provided the perfect start by dismissing UPW skipper Meg Lanning for a duck with the very first delivery of the match. This early shock left the Warriorz reeling, and things only grew more difficult as Marizanne Kapp entered the attack.
Kapp, showing why she is considered one of the premier all-rounders in the game, dismantled the top order by removing the dangerous Deepti Sharma for 24 and Charli Knott for 12. By the end of the powerplay, UP Warriorz were struggling at 36/3. The middle order failed to find their footing against the relentless DC attack; Harleen Deol and Deandra Dottin fell cheaply for 3 and 5 runs respectively. Henry returned to remove Simran Shaikh, who had offered a brief resistance with 22 runs. Kapp finished her spell with impressive figures of 3/30, while the spin duo of Minnu Mani and Sree Charani chipped in to leave UPW at a precarious 95/8 after 17 overs.
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Shikha Pandey’s Late Cameo Provides a Fighting Total
Just as it seemed the Warriorz would fail to reach a triple-digit score, Shikha Pandey produced a vital unbeaten cameo. Scoring 23 runs off just 13 deliveries, Pandey’s late-inning flourish propelled her team to a total of 122/8. While the target of 123 appeared modest on a competitive Vadodara surface, it gave the UPW bowlers something to defend and kept the contest alive as the teams headed into the second innings.
Wolvaardt and Verma Command the Chase
The Delhi Capitals’ pursuit of the 123-run target began with an early setback when Lizelle Lee was dismissed for 10. However, any nerves were quickly settled by a composed 73-run partnership for the second wicket between Laura Wolvaardt and Shafali Verma. Wolvaardt was particularly aggressive, finding the boundary seven times during her 47-run knock off 36 balls. Shafali played the supporting role to perfection, contributing a measured 29 off 33 deliveries. At 84/1, the Capitals appeared to be cruising toward an easy victory.
A Dramatic Collapse Tests Delhi’s Resolve
The momentum shifted drastically as the UP Warriorz bowlers staged a spirited comeback. Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, and Shikha Pandey exploited the mounting pressure to trigger a middle-order collapse. In a frantic period of play, Delhi slipped from a comfortable position to 101/5. Deepti claimed the vital wickets of Wolvaardt and Henry, while Ecclestone and Pandey dismissed Kapp and Shafali respectively. With 22 runs still required from the final four overs and the defending champions’ playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the match reached a fever pitch.
Captain Jemimah Rodrigues Seals the Eliminator Spot
In the face of rising tension, Delhi Capitals captain Jemimah Rodrigues stepped up to lead from the front. Displaying remarkable calm under fire, Rodrigues took control of the chase. She struck an unbeaten 34 off just 18 balls, finding the fence five times. Her innings reached its crescendo when she struck the winning boundary through the cover region, sealing the five-wicket win with eight balls to spare.
The victory ensured that Delhi Capitals maintained their perfect record of reaching the playoffs in every WPL season to date. Their clinical performance sets up an Eliminator clash against the Gujarat Giants, with the winner moving on to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the grand final. For the UP Warriorz, the loss marked the end of a challenging campaign, while the Delhi Capitals celebrated a hard-earned victory that keeps their championship dreams very much alive.