Vadodara, Feb 2 (.) Delhi Capitals sealed their place in the TATA Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 Eliminator with a tense five-wicket win over UP Warriorz in the final league match of the season at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara, a result that also knocked defending champions Mumbai Indians out of the playoff race.
Chasing a modest target of 123, DC leaned on a disciplined bowling effort led by Marizanne Kapp and a calm, decisive finish from captain Jemimah Rodrigues to complete the job with eight balls to spare. The victory ensured Delhi Capitals maintained their perfect record of qualifying for the playoffs in every edition of the WPL so far, as per the WPL website.
With the win, DC set up an Eliminator clash against Gujarat Giants on February 3, 2026, with the winner earning a place in the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Earlier, after winning the toss and opting to field, Delhi made an immediate impact. Chinelle Henry struck with the very first ball of the match, removing UP Warriorz captain Meg Lanning for a duck and setting the tone for a dominant bowling display.
Kapp soon tightened the screws, dismissing Deepti Sharma (24) and Charli Knott (12) as UPW slumped to 36/3 at the end of the powerplay. The Warriorz struggled to recover as partnerships failed to materialise against DC’s disciplined attack.
Harleen Deol (3) and Deandra Dottin (5) fell cheaply, while Simran Shaikh (22) offered brief resistance before being sent back by Henry.
Kapp finished with impressive figures of 3/30, while spinners Minnu Mani and Sree Charani also chipped in as DC’s bowlers and fielders combined to reduce UPW to 95/8 after 17 overs. A late unbeaten cameo from Shikha Pandey (23 off 13 balls) helped UP Warriorz limp to 122/8, a total that appeared well below par.
Delhi’s chase began steadily despite the early loss of Lizelle Lee (10). Laura Wolvaardt and Shafali Verma added a solid 73-run partnership for the second wicket, with Wolvaardt leading the charge through a fluent 47 off 36 balls, including seven boundaries. Shafali played a supporting role, scoring 29 from 33 deliveries.
At 84/1, the chase looked straightforward before UPW triggered a dramatic middle-order collapse. Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone and Shikha Pandey struck in quick succession as DC slipped to 101/5, briefly reviving hopes of a comeback.
With 22 runs required from the final four overs, Jemimah Rodrigues took control. Showing composure under pressure, the DC skipper struck an unbeaten 34 off 18 balls, peppered with five boundaries, and sealed the win with a cover drive that underlined her authority.
The result capped a strong league campaign for Delhi Capitals and sent them confidently into the Eliminator, while UP Warriorz bowed out and Mumbai Indians were left on the outside of the playoff picture.
. VAN .