WPL Review: Delhi edges past UP in a thrilling showdown

Delhi Capitals Women won a thriller contest against UP Warriorz Women by a seven-wicket margin with one delivery to spare. This was the final game of the leg played at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara.

Kiran Navgire provided a flying start to the Warriorz. In three overs, the Warriorz had raced on to 37. They posted their highest powerplay score (66/1). Navgire departed on the first delivery of the eighth over after a blazing half-century. Two wickets followed in each of the subsequent overs to leave the Warriorz four-down at 83 at the halfway stage.

A 23-run 17th over off Shikha Pandey boosted the Warriorz to 150. Chinelle Henry’s 15-ball 33-run cameo led her side to end up posting 166 on the board. Annabel Sutherland was the pick of the bowlers, registering 2/26 in her four-over quota. Pandey was dispatched all over the park, conceding 43 runs in three overs.

The Capitals started their run-chase in blistering fashion. The opening duo of Shafali Verma and Meg Lanning put away 59 in the first six overs. Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues getting dismissed in the span of a couple of overs led to a brief halt. With Sutherland taking a backseat, Meg Lanning brought up her seventh WPL fifty.

Grace Harris struck in her very first over, dismissing the Capitals’ skipper. Sutherland and Marizanne Kapp wrapped up proceedings by chasing down 32 runs from the final three overs. With this defeat, the Warriorz lost their second consecutive game this season. Sutherland emerged as the Player of the Match for her clinical all-round display.

Best Performers of the match

Meg Lanning (69 off 49)

Lanning played a true captain’s knock to lay a solid platform for her side to eventually overhaul the opposition’s total. Although her innings did not feature a single maximum, she navigated her knock well and dispatched the loose deliveries to the boundary with ease.

Annabel Sutherland (2/26 in four overs)

Sutherland provided an immediate impact after coming on in the final over of the powerplay. The very next over, she got rid of the dangerous Navgire. Sutherland varied her pace excellently well to contain the Warriorz’ batters.

What’s next for the two teams?

The two teams will compete once again after three days, albeit at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The match will commence at 7:30 pm (IST) on Saturday, February 22.