Delhi Capitals moved to the top of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 points table with a convincing six-wicket victory over the Gujarat Giants in the 10th match of the tournament at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Winning the toss, Capitals opted to field first. The Giants’ batting lineup struggled to get going with wickets falling at regular intervals. Bharti Fulmali’s unbeaten 40 was a notable contribution, while Deandra Dottin was Gujarat’s second highest run-scorer with 26 runs. Delhi’s bowlers were on top of their game, with Shikha Pandey, Marizanne Kapp and Annabel Sutherland each claiming two wickets to restrict Giants to a below par score of 127/9.
Chasing the modest target, Delhi lost their captain Meg Lanning for just 14 runs in the fourth over, but Shafali Verma and Jess Jonassen took charge, stitching a partnership of 74(37). Verma scored 44, while Jonassen remained unbeaten on 61, guiding Delhi to a comfortable victory with 29 balls to spare. Marizanne Kapp hit the winning four, as Capitals celebrated their third win in the tournament.
Highlights from the match:
Marizanne Kapp – 2/17(4)
Marizanne Kapp set the tone for Delhi Capitals with a brilliant opening spell, finishing with figures of 2/17 in four overs. She provided Delhi their first breakthrough in the fourth over, removing Harleen Deol for 5 with a good-length delivery that moved away, forcing a tentative edge to the wicketkeeper. Just three balls later, she trapped Phoebe Litchfield lbw for a three-ball duck with a delivery that jagged back in, a decision upheld on review. Kapp’s early breakthroughs reduced Gujarat Giants to 16/2, putting immediate pressure on their top order and giving Delhi the perfect start with the ball.
Shikha Pandey – 2/18(3)
Shikha Pandey made a significant impact with the ball for Delhi Capitals, finishing with figures of 2/18 in three overs. She struck in the fourth over, dismissing Beth Mooney for 10 by angling one into her from around the wicket, forcing a mistimed pick-up shot that found Niki Prasad at long leg. On the very next delivery, Pandey removed Kashvee Gautam with a short-pitched delivery that climbed sharply, inducing a top edge that Prasad safely pouched with a well-judged diving catch at deep midwicket. Her double strike in consecutive balls left Gujarat Giants struggling at 20/4.
Bharti Fulmali – 40*(29)
Walking in at no. 8 with Gujarat Giants struggling at 60/6, Bharti Fulmali played a crucial rescue act, remaining unbeaten on 40 off 29 balls. She steadied the innings with a vital 51-run partnership alongside Tanuja Kanwar before accelerating in the death overs. A standout moment came in the 16th over when she smashed back-to-back boundaries off Jess Jonassen—first lofting a full delivery past long-off for four, then executing a well-timed paddle sweep for six over deep square leg. With four fours and two sixes in her knock, Fulmali’s late surge helped Gujarat reach a fighting total of 127.
Jess Jonassen – 61*(32) & 1/24(3)
Jess Jonassen guided Delhi Capitals to victory with a sensational unbeaten 61 off just 32 balls, sealing the chase in style. Her innings, studded with nine fours and two sixes, was a display of controlled aggression, including back-to-back boundaries off Ashleigh Gardner in the powerplay. She reached her maiden WPL fifty with a well-placed drive past mid-off and continued to dominate. Adding to her all-round impact, Jonassen also picked up 1/24 in three overs, dismissing Meghna Singh with a dipping delivery that crashed into leg stump. She won the Player of the Match for her versatile performance.
Shafali Verma – 44(27)
Shafali Verma gave Delhi Capitals a flying start in their chase with a blistering 44 off 27 balls, striking five fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 162.96. She dominated the powerplay, taking on the Gujarat Giants’ bowlers with aggressive strokeplay. The 10th over was particularly eventful, as she first launched Ashleigh Gardner for a massive six over deep midwicket before following it up with a powerful lofted four over cover. However, her entertaining knock ended on the very next ball when she was trapped lbw, beaten by a well-flighted delivery. Despite the dismissal, her innings had already set the foundation for a comfortable chase.
Kashvee Gautam – 2/26(4)
Kashvee Gautam was Gujarat Giants’ standout bowler, finishing with 2/26 in her four overs and striking at crucial moments. She made an early breakthrough in the third over with a fiery 108 kph delivery that crashed into Meg Lanning’s stumps, sending the Delhi Capitals skipper back for 3 and keeping the chase in check. Later, in the 14th over, she dismissed Annabel Sutherland with a delivery that straightened after pitching, inducing an outside edge that Beth Mooney grabbed on the second attempt. Gautam’s disciplined spell gave Gujarat hope, but Delhi remained in control of the chase.
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