In a clinical display of power and precision, Delhi Capitals punched their ticket to a fourth consecutive Women’s Premier League (WPL) final by crushing Gujarat Giants in the 2026 Eliminator. While the Giants managed to set a respectable target of 169 at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, they were ultimately steamrolled by a Delhi batting lineup that looked like it was playing on a different surface. It was a high-stakes night that promised a nail-biter but ended as a statement of intent from the Capitals, who chased down the total with 26 balls to spare.
The evening began with Delhi captain Jemimah Rodrigues winning the toss and choosing to field—a decision that paid dividends early on. The Giants’ top order struggled to find any rhythm against the disciplined lines of Chinelle Henry and Nandni Sharma. Sophie Devine, usually the bedrock of the Gujarat batting, fell cheaply for just 6, while Ashleigh Gardner was dismissed for 11, leaving the Giants reeling at 59/4. The home crowd was silenced as the Capitals’ bowlers moved through the gears, making the most of a surface that offered some early assistance.
However, veteran opener Beth Mooney proved why she’s one of the most reliable anchors in the world. She played a patient, unbeaten knock of 62 off 51 balls, holding the innings together while wickets tumbled at the other end. She finally found a willing partner in Georgia Wareham, who injected some much-needed life into the Giants’ total with a brisk 35. Their 61-run stand for the fifth wicket pushed the Giants to 168/7. While it wasn’t a massive score, it felt like a competitive one under the lights of a playoff game.
Any hope the Giants had of defending that total was quickly dismantled in a blistering Powerplay. Lizelle Lee and Shafali Verma came out with a no-prisoners mindset, adding 75 runs in the first six overs. Lee was particularly brutal, smashing 43 off just 24 deliveries, while Shafali hammered 31 off 21. Their 89-run opening partnership effectively broke the back of the chase before it had even reached the halfway mark, leaving the Gujarat bowlers looking for answers that never came.
There was a brief glimmer of hope for Gujarat when Georgia Wareham struck twice in one over to remove both openers, momentarily slowing the bleeding. But the Capitals’ depth is their greatest strength. Captain Jemimah Rodrigues walked in and played a gem of an innings, scoring 41 off 23 balls to ensure there were no late jitters. She was perfectly supported by Laura Wolvaardt, who remained calm and unbeaten on 32, steering the ship with the composure of someone who has been in this position many times before.
The match reached its inevitable conclusion in the 16th over when Marizanne Kapp crunched a boundary to seal a seven-wicket victory. The final scorecard showed Delhi at 169/3 in just 15.4 overs, a result that underlined the gap between the two sides on the night. For the Giants, it was a disappointing end to a season where they had shown glimpses of brilliance, while for Delhi, it sets up a mouth-watering rematch of the 2024 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
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