The final match of the group stage in Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, Delhi Capitals defeated UP Warriorz by 5 wickets, with 8 balls to spare in a must-win game for both sides to decide their qualification scenario at the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium, Kotambi.
Delhi Capitals skipper Jemimah Rodrigues had won the toss and decided to bowl first against the UP Warriorz. Chinelle Henry was off to a great start as she dismissed the Warriorz Captain Meg Lanning in the very first ball of the innings. They later went on to lose 3 wickets in the powerplay, credit to Marizanne Kapp’s lethal accuracy with the ball. The Warriorz struggled to get any momentum with the bat, as their highest partnership was 29 runs. Charani and Minnu Mani also picked up key wickets in the middle overs, restricting the side to a total of 122 from the 20 overs.
In the 2nd innings, Delhi stumbled in the beginning with the key wicket of Lizelle Lee, but Shafali and Wolvaardt stitched together a partnership of 73 runs to keep the Capitals in the chase. After the wicket of Wolvaardt, things seemed to be falling off as they lost 4 wickets in a span of 17 runs, credit to some good bowling from Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone and Shikha Pandey. However, the skipper Jemimah Rodrigues rose to the occasion and scored a crucial 34* off just 18 balls to guide her side to victory by 5 wickets and a spot in the playoffs.
Top performers: Delhi Capitals vs UP Warriorz
Laura Wolvaardt – 47(36)
Wolvaardt walked in to bat at number 3, when her side desperately needed some runs on the board in the powerplay, especially after losing Lizelle Lee early on. She started finding the gaps effortlessly and got them off to a good start in the context of the game. She scored 47 off just 36 balls, including 7 fours in her innings. She formed a crucial partnership of 73 runs along with Shafali Verma until she was dismissed by Deepti Sharma in the 13th over of the game. Her knock formed the foundation for the chase and made life easier for the batters down the order to play with lesser pressure.
Marizanne Kapp – 3/30(4)
Kapp has been in fine form this season with the ball, with her consistent performances and wicket-taking ability in crucial stages of the game. In a must-win game for the Capitals, they had to ensure that the Warriorz didn’t get going with the bat, especially with the likes of Meg Lanning, Deepti Sharma and Deandra Dottin. Kapp dismissed Charlie Knott in the 4th over and was hungry for more. She then took the wicket of a well-set Deepti Sharma and the dangerous Deandra Dottin. She picked up 3 wickets and gave away just 30 runs from her 4 overs, ensuring that the Capitals had a higher chance of winning.
Jemimah Rodrigues – 34* (18)
Jemimah Rodrigues walked in to bat at number 4, and she came at a situation where their key batter, Wolvaardt, was dismissed by Deepti Sharma, and all she had for support was a struggling Shafali Verma at the other end. She watched 3 wickets fall at the other end and decided to take matters into her own hands as she finished off the match with a quickfire 34* off just 18 balls. She guided her side to victory with a crucial knock and made sure that her team would qualify for the next round of the 2026 WPL Season.
Deepti Sharma – 24(19) and 2/27 (3.4)
Deepti opened the innings along with Lanning, who was dismissed for a golden duck. She scored a valuable 24 from 19 balls, including 4 boundaries and a six. Coming into bowl, she knew that her side desperately needed wickets, and she took the crucial wicket of Laura Wolvaardt. She then went on to dismiss Chinelle Henry and tried everything in her power to trigger a late comeback for the Warriorz and to finish the season on a high, but it wasn’t to be.
