In the last Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 league match, Beth Mooney leading Gujarat Giants, chose to bat first after winning the toss against Meg Lanning’s Delhi Capitals.
Despite a shaky start, with the top order falling, a partnership of 23 runs between Ashleigh Gardner and Phoebe Litchfield steadied the innings. However, breakthroughs by Minnu Mani and Shikha Pandey halted their progress. A crucial partnership between Bharti Fulmali and Kathryn Bryce pushed the Giants past 100, but quick wickets towards the end restricted them to 126/9.
Delhi Capitals, in their chase of 127, started aggressively, with openers Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma setting the pace. Tanuja Kanwer’s breakthroughs slowed their momentum, but a substantial partnership of 94 runs between Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues secured victory for Delhi. Verma’s 71 of 37 deliveries with seven boundaries and five maximums earned her the Player of the Match as Delhi Capitals secured a direct spot at the WPL 2024 final on March 17, 2024.
Here are some highlights from the final match of the league stage-
Marizanne Kapp’s strike in the powerplay
Kapp put Gujarat Giants in trouble by dismissing both openers, including skipper Beth Mooney in the powerplay. Her exceptional spell of 2 wickets and a 4.25 economy helped restrict the Giants to a total of 126/9. She is currently the purple cap holder, with a total of 11 wickets. Fans are praising her as one of the best all-rounders in the competition.
Only players to average less than 15 & have an economy rate below 7 in #WPL 2024 (min 5 wickets)
Ellyse Perry
Marizanne KappProbably the 2 best pace bowling all rounders in the modern game
— Mohit Shah (@mohit_shah17) March 13, 2024
Cap holders at the end of league stage
Orange Cap
Meg Lanning 308 runs
Purple Cap
Marizanne Kapp 11 wickets
Complete dominance from Delhi Capitals
Two legends on top#WPL
— Mohit Shah (@mohit_shah17) March 13, 2024
Marizanne Kapp has taken 42 wickets so far in the first over of an Innings in T20s. The most by any bowler in this format.#DCvGG #WPL2024 pic.twitter.com/z0rrBIpae1
— Kishan Kishor (@itskishankishor) March 13, 2024
Minnu Mani’s maiden WPL wickets
Minnu, bowling at the Arun Jaitley Stadium for the first time, struck and struck twice, claiming wickets of the Giants’ top overseas players, Ashleigh Gardner and Phoebe Litchfield. Fans are applauding her for such an amazing display of bowling.
A good delivery by Minnu Mani to dismiss Ashleigh Gardner on 12 runs
GG women
📸:- Jio Cinema#DCvGG #WPL2024 #Cricket https://t.co/4Zg4LoT63R
— mahi (@mahi57576) March 13, 2024
Minnu Mani 🔥🙌🏻#DCvGG #WPL2024 pic.twitter.com/nE6mUHe28s
— Thewomencricketworld (@Thewomencricke1) March 13, 2024
Minnu Mani for Delhi is an inspirational story👏👏.#WPL2024 #ProboOpinions
— Probo (@probo_india) March 13, 2024
Wayanad, Kerala seems to be the nursery for top-quality women cricketers, like
Minnu Mani
Sajeevan SajanaWho else?
— Jose Puliampatta (Prof. Bala) (@JosePuliampatta) March 13, 2024
Minnu Mani proving to be quite the inspired selection today
Gets Gujarat Giants 2 biggest hitters: Ash Gardner & Phoebe Litchfield in just her first 2 overs
Meg Lanning & Jonathan Batty can do no wrong this #WPL
— Mohit Shah (@mohit_shah17) March 13, 2024
Bharti Fulmali’s contribution
With the Giants struggling at 4/39, Bharti Fulmali, who joined the WPL mid-season as a replacement for Harleen Deol, stepped up, making a crucial contribution of 42 runs off 36 balls, including 7 boundaries. Her innings helped the Giants surpass the 100-run mark. Fans have been praising her, acknowledging her valuable and impressive performance.
Bharti fulmali handled the team in difficult conditions, scoring valuable runs with her batting 🔥 #TATAWPL pic.twitter.com/3RNkF0Fq3y
— Ashish Singh (@ashishsingh_29) March 13, 2024
Bharti Fulmali is impressive player of the WPL
— DREAM11s STATS (@fantasy1Cricket) March 13, 2024
Shafali Verma’s explosive batting display
The young prodigy smashed a quick-fire 71 runs off 37 balls, including 7 boundaries and five maximums, at a striking rate of 191.89. This marked her third fifty of the season, and she also became the second Indian to surpass the 500-run mark in the WPL. Fans applauded her remarkable batting display.
Shafali Verma you beauty. ❤️ #DCvGG pic.twitter.com/aMn2BNsztu
— Kalyan sahai Meena (@Kalyansahai1407) March 14, 2024
Third Fifty of the Season for Shafali Verma 💥 @DelhiCapitals @wplt20 #TATAWPL #WPL2024 #ShafaliVerma pic.twitter.com/JF0MnLL7QI
— the_cricket_web (@the_cricket_web) March 13, 2024
List of players who have 500 plus runs in WPL.
Harmanpreet Kaur(MI): 516
Shafali Verma (DC): 517
Meg Lanning (DC): 653
Note: 2 players are from Delhi Capitals the rise of Delhi Capitals women.#DCvGG #WPL2024 @DelhiCapitals
— Vishwesh Gaur (@iumvishwesh) March 13, 2024
Shafali Verma:
▫️ At her explosive best, Highest Strike Rate among Batters with 100+ Runs
▫️ 3 Destructive Fifties against UP, RCB, and GG this season pic.twitter.com/KvafdHp1mg— Capitals Blood (@Capitalsblood) March 13, 2024
Delhi directly advanced to the final
Fans cheered for the Delhi Capitals as they confirmed their place in the finals directly. They have consecutively claimed the top spot in the WPL seasons.
Delhi Capitals Won By 7 Wickets!
Delhi Capitals Becomes First Team To Qualify For TATA WPL 2024 Final !👏
Shafali Verma 71 Runs 🙌
Jemimah Rodrigues 38* Runs 🙌
Minnu Mani 2 Wickets 🙌
Marizanne Kapp 2 Wickets 🙌#DelhiCapitals | @DelhiCapitals | #WPL2024 | #TATAWPL pic.twitter.com/BNoNtaMydu
— Aneesh (@Aneesh_98) March 13, 2024
‼️WPL 2024 | Shafali Verma Smashes 71 As Delhi Capitals Secure Direct Qualification Into WPL Final.
This victory ensured the Delhi Capitals a direct qualification into the final of the Women's Premier League.#DelhiCapitals #WPL2024 pic.twitter.com/6ocjmD7r01
— tikhna.drishti (@DrishtiTikhna) March 13, 2024