Rodrigues scores vital fifty keeping playoff hopes alive
Competition in the WPL 2026 has officially heated up following a crucial clash in Vadodara. Delhi Capitals (DC) managed to secure a vital win, successfully chasing down the target to defeat the defending champions, Mumbai Indians (MI). This victory not only lifted DC off the bottom of the points table but also handed Mumbai their third straight loss.
Competition is now fierce, with four teams sitting on four points each, leaving only RCB comfortably ahead. This result has pushed Gujarat Giants down to the fifth spot, throwing the race for the playoffs wide open.
Chasing a target of 155 on a slow track, the Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians encounter turned into a battle of nerves. DC captain Jemimah Rodrigues played a captain’s knock, entering the crease when her team needed 71 runs off 58 balls. Although the MI bowlers tried to restrict the scoring by taking pace off the ball, Rodrigues found the gaps consistently. She combined smart running with aggressive boundaries to score her maiden fifty of the season as captain, finishing unbeaten on 51.
Earlier in the match, Delhi Capitals enjoyed a strong powerplay thanks to openers Shafali Verma and Lizelle Lee. The duo smashed 57 runs in the first six overs, setting a perfect platform. Lee scored a valuable 46 but was later fined 10% of her match fee for breaching the code of conduct regarding equipment abuse.
On the other hand, Mumbai Indians struggled early in their innings. Their top order failed to fire during the powerplay against disciplined DC bowling. However, Nat Sciver-Brunt rescued the innings with a brilliant unbeaten 65. She was supported by Harmanpreet Kaur, who scored 41. Despite their efforts, brilliant bowling spells, particularly by Shree Charani who took 3 wickets for 33 runs, restricted MI to 154 for 6.
Marizanne Kapp finished the game for Delhi with a massive six, securing the win with an over to spare. This result ensures that the remaining matches in the WPL will be intensely fought as teams scramble for playoff berths.
