WPL: Delhi thrash UP to open their account

It was all one-way traffic in the fourth match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL 2024) as Delhi Capitals defeated UP Warriorz by nine wickets, chasing a 120-run target with 33 balls to spare.

Meg Lanning and Co. did not put a foot wrong in the encounter played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. They won the toss and opted to field first. Marizanne Kapp bowled one of the finest new-ball spells in the history of T20 cricket as she dismantled the UP top-order inside the first five overs.

The Warriorz couldn’t recover from their forgettable start of 16 runs and three wickets in the first five overs. They kept losing wickets at regular intervals and huffed and puffed their way to 119/9 in their 20 overs.

Chasing the paltry target, Delhi skipper Lanning and Shafali Verma stitched a 119-run opening partnership off 86 balls to take their team to the brink. When Lanning departed for 51, the scores were level. Jemimah Rodrigues walked out to bat at No. 3 and finished the lop-sided encounter with a boundary of her first ball.

Top Performers of the Match

Shafali Verma (64 not out off 43 balls)

The flamboyant Indian batter scored just 1 run off eight balls in Delhi’s first match against Mumbai Indians. However, she returned with a bang against the Warriorz, scoring an unbeaten 64 off 43 balls. Her innings comprised six fours and four sixes.

Marizanne Kapp (3/5, 4 overs)

The South African all-rounder bowled four overs on the trot, three in the powerplay, and conceded just five runs. She bagged the wickets of Warriorz captain Alyssa Healy, the talented Vrinda Dinesh, and star all-rounder Tahlia McGrath to give Delhi a dream start.

What’s next?

UP Warriorz will look to get this defeat out of their system as soon as possible and focus on their next game against Mumbai Indians in Bengaluru on Wednesday, February 28. Meanwhile, Delhi will be in action on Thursday, February 29 against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the same venue.