Delhi Capitals booked their spot in the Women’s Premier League final for the fourth time in four seasons after beating Gujarat Giants by 7 wickets in the WPL 206 Eliminator at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara
on Tuesday.
Jemimah Rodrigues took over captaincy from Meg Lanning, who moved to UP Warriroz, and in her first year as skipper booked DC’s spot in the summit clash yet again.
DC will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the WPL 2026 final on Thursday (February 5) — a repeat of the finale of the 2024 season.
How DC Beat GG In Eliminator?
After opting to bowl, the Delhi Capitals’ bowlers restricted Gujarat Giants to 168 for seven. Shafali Verma (31 off 21 balls) and Lizelle Lee (43 off 24) provided a strong start with an 89-run opening partnership, helping Delhi chase down the target in 15.4 overs.
Chasing the target, Delhi began aggressively as Verma and Lee capitalised on the field restrictions. The pair hit 15 boundaries and a six, racing to 89 without loss and putting Delhi in a commanding position.
However, leg-spinner Georgia Wareham (2/28) initiated a brief comeback for Gujarat by dismissing both openers in the same over. Despite this setback, Delhi’s momentum remained intact as Laura Wolvaardt (32 not out) and captain Jemimah Rodrigues (41) displayed composure during the middle overs.
With the scoreboard pressure eased, Wolvaardt and Rodrigues took their time to settle before striking boundaries comfortably to keep the chase on track. Veteran all-rounder Marizanne Kapp scored the winning runs, setting up a final clash with Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Thursday.
Earlier, Gujarat Giants posted a competitive total, thanks to an unbeaten half-century from Beth Mooney. The Australian opener scored 62 not out off 51 balls, including six boundaries, anchoring the innings after early pressure from the Delhi bowlers.
Mooney received crucial support from fellow Australian Wareham (35), as the pair added a quick 61 runs for the fifth wicket. Mooney then partnered with Kashvee Gautam (18) for another valuable 39-run stand.
Delhi made early breakthroughs through Chinelle Henry (3/35), who dismissed the dangerous Sophie Devine (6). Nandini Sharma (2/44) also made an immediate impact, taking wickets with her first two deliveries in the sixth over.
Nandini first dismissed Anushka Sharma (16), who mis-timed a shot to mid-on, where Henry took a diving catch. She then induced a thick outside edge from captain Ashleigh Gardner (0), caught by Sneh Rana at slip.
Mooney attempted to counter-attack with a four off Nandini, but the boundaries dried up once spinners Minnu Mani (1/23) and Rana (0/3) were introduced. Mani had Kanika Ahuja (6) stumped by Lee, bringing Wareham to the crease.
Wareham injected momentum with three boundaries and a six, while Mooney continued to anchor the innings. However, Henry returned to dismiss Wareham and Bharti Fulmali in the same over.
The Giants managed to recover late in the innings as Mooney and Kashvee found the boundary in the closing overs, with DC conceding 103 runs in the last 10 overs.
(With inputs from Agencies)
