Jemimah Rodrigues leads clinical chase to secure crucial playoff qualification

Delhi Capitals secured their place in theWomen’s Premier League playoffsfor the fourth year in a row after a tense five-wicket victory over UP Warriorz. While the win confirmed Delhi's dominance in the tournament, it simultaneously ended the journey for defending champions Mumbai Indians, who were hoping for a Delhi loss to stay in the hunt.

The match, held in Vadodara, initially looked like a one-sided affair. Delhi’s bowling unit, led by an aggressiveMarizanne Kapp, dismantled the UP Warriorz' batting lineup early on. Kapp took three vital wickets, and despite being slightly expensive, she ensured the Warriorz were restricted to a modest total of 122 for 8. Chinelle Henry provided the perfect start by dismissing Meg Lanning for a golden duck. However, late cameos from Shikha Pandey and Simran Shaikh helped UP reach a respectable score.

Chasing 123, Delhi Capitals looked comfortable duringLaura Wolvaardt’sknock of 47. Wolvaardt survived multiple dropped catches to put Delhi on the front foot. However, the game took a dramatic turn when Delhi suffered a sudden collapse, losing three wickets for just four runs. The pressure mounted as Shafali Verma and Marizanne Kapp fell in quick succession, leaving the team struggling at a crucial juncture.

With the game hanging in the balance,Jemimah Rodriguesshowed remarkable composure. She stabilized the innings with an unbeaten 34 off 18 balls. Her ability to find gaps and rotate the strike kept the scoreboard ticking. Rodrigues eventually sealed the win with two overs to spare, ensuringDelhi Capitals WPL 2026campaign continues into the knockout stages.

This victory marks a historic achievement for the franchise, as they remain the only team to qualify for the playoffs in every single WPL season. For UP Warriorz and Mumbai Indians, the result signals the end of a challenging road this year.

Image Source: BCCI