Choosing to bat first after winning the toss in match 10 of the Women’s Delhi Premier League (WDPL) 2026, Central Delhi Queens suffered an immediate setback in their innings. Opener Deeksha Sharma fell early for just 2 runs off 3 balls, trapped lbw by Apeksha Anand in the second over with the score at 4/1.
Despite the early tremor, Arushi Goel and Nidhi Mahto joined forces to construct a vital partnership that stabilized the innings. The duo batted with control and caution, taking Central Delhi Queens past the 50-run mark and putting together an impressive 87-run stand for the second wicket.
Arushi Goel anchored one end with a composed 43 off 46 balls, hitting 5 boundaries, before falling caught by Nazma Khan off Shivani Jangid’s bowling. Nidhi Mahto fell just short of a well-deserved half-century, dismissed for a fine 49 off 47 deliveries (5 fours, 1 six) after being caught by Shivani Jangid off Archana, leaving the team at 91/2 in the 15th over.
Once the set batters departed, the North Delhi Strikers Women bowlers engineered a dramatic lower-order collapse. Off-spinner Nazma Khan delivered an extraordinary spell, tearing through Central Delhi Queens’ middle order. Nazma dismissed captain Soni Yadav for 1 (4 balls), caught by S Sharma, before claiming Riya Kondal (1 off 2 balls) caught by A Soni. She completed her devastating burst by stumping Medhavi Bidhuri for 1 (2 balls) via keeper Riya Shokeen.
Apeksha Anand struck again to remove Jyoti, caught by A Soni for 2 off 4 balls. While wickets tumbled around her, Monika provided a crucial late spark, smashing an unbeaten 19 off just 12 balls with 2 boundaries. Accompanied by R Priyadarshini (1* off 1 ball), Monika pushed Central Delhi Queens to a final total of 122/7 in their allotted 20 overs.
Among the North Delhi Strikers bowlers, Nazma Khan stood out with magnificent figures of 3/18 from 4 overs. Apeksha Anand was equally disciplined, picking up 2/21 in her 4 overs, while Shivani Jangid (1/27 in 4 overs) and Archana (1/16 in 2 overs) chipped in effectively. Reshika Beniwal (0/12 in 2 overs) and Priya Mishra (0/28 in 4 overs) kept the scoring rate in check during their tight spells.
Chasing a target of 123 runs, the North Delhi Strikers Women had a shaky start to their chase. Opening batter Shivi Sharma was dismissed early for 8 off 9 balls (2 fours), caught by Monika off the bowling of Sumiti Soni with the score at 14/1 in the third over. Captain Ayushi Soni then walked in to join opener Archana.
The pair pushed the score to 50 before captain Ayushi Soni was stumped by R Priyadarshini off Sumiti Soni’s bowling for 22 off 25 balls (3 fours). Soon after, Nidhi Mahto made her presence felt with the ball, getting Nazma Khan stumped for 14 off 10 balls (2 fours). When Central Delhi Queens skipper Soni Yadav trapped wicketkeeper-batter Riya Shokeen lbw for 3 off 5 balls, North Delhi Strikers Women were reduced to 72/4, leaving the match nicely balanced.
With 51 runs still needed, Archana found an able partner in Samaira Raghav. The duo showed remarkable composure, rotating the strike consistently and capitalizing on loose deliveries. Archana anchored the run chase brilliantly, remaining unbeaten on 49 off 44 balls, laced with 4 crisp boundaries.
Samaira Raghav played a perfect supporting role, scoring a calm 20* off 19 balls with a boundary. Together, they forged an unbroken 51-run partnership for the fifth wicket, comfortably guiding North Delhi Strikers Women past the target to reach 123/4 in 18.4 overs, sealing a 6-wicket victory with 8 balls to spare.
For Central Delhi Queens, Sumiti Soni was the pick of the bowlers, returning figures of 2/28 in 3.4 overs. Nidhi Mahto (1/25 in 4 overs) and captain Soni Yadav (1/14 in 2 overs) picked up a wicket each, while Puja Haldar bowled an economical spell of 0/16 in 4 overs. Medhavi Bidhuri (0/34 in 4 overs) and Deeksha Sharma (0/6 in 1 over) also rolled their arms over but could not break the match-winning partnership.
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