DC sets up title clash with Mandhana led RCB team
Vadodara: In a display of sheer dominance, Delhi Capitals have stormed into their fourth consecutive Women's Premier League (WPL) final. The team produced a clinical all-round performance to defeat Gujarat Giants by seven wickets in the Eliminator match on Tuesday. With this victory, they have set up a mouth-watering title clash against the Smriti Mandhana-led Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), scheduled for February 5 in Vadodara.
Chasing a competitive target of 169, Delhi made the task look incredibly easy, crossing the finish line with 26 balls to spare. The foundation for this massive win was laid by the opening pair of Lizelle Lee and Shafali Verma. The duo came out swinging, stitching together a match-winning partnership of 89 runs in just 43 balls. Their aggression completely demoralized the Gujarat bowlers early in the innings.
While Lee scored a quickfire 43, Shafali contributed a blistering 31. Once the openers departed, Indian star Jemimah Rodrigues took charge. She scored a fluent 41 off 23 balls, ensuring the momentum never dipped. Laura Wolvaardt remained unbeaten on 32, guiding the team home alongside Marizanne Kapp.
Earlier in the match, the Delhi Capitals bowlers justified their decision to field first. Chinelle Henry was the wrecker-in-chief, claiming three wickets for 35 runs. She removed the dangerous Sophie Devine early, thanks to a spectacular one-handed catch by Lee. Nandani Sharma also impressed, taking two wickets in a single over, which broke the backbone of the Giants' batting lineup.
Gujarat Giants struggled significantly at the start, tottering at 59 for 4. However, captain Beth Mooney played a captain's knock, scoring an unbeaten 62 off 51 balls. She found support from Georgia Wareham, who made 35, helping the team reach a respectable total of 168. Despite their recovery, the total proved insufficient against the high-flying Delhi batting lineup.
Cricket fans across Odisha and India are now eagerly waiting for the final showdown between two of the league's most popular teams.
Image Source: BCCI
