Sports - 3 days ago

Wolvaardt, Jemimah Steer Delhi Capitals into Playoffs with Gritty Win over UP Warriorz

0 7 min read

Vadodara, Feb 2026 : A composed chase anchored by Laura Wolvaardt and finished in style by Jemimah Rodrigues powered Delhi Capitals (DC) to a five-wicket victory over UP Warriorz (UPW) in a tense Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 encounter at the BCA Stadium, Kotambi, on Sunday. With this win, Delhi Capitals sealed their place in the playoffs and will now face Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator, while UP Warriorz and defending champions Mumbai Indians were knocked out of the tournament.

Chasing a modest target of 123, Delhi Capitals found themselves under pressure at various stages, turning what looked like a straightforward chase into a nervy affair. Ultimately, it was Jemimah Rodrigues’ calm under fire that made the difference, as she remained unbeaten on 34 off just 18 deliveries to guide DC home in 18.4 overs.

Earlier, UP Warriorz struggled to build momentum after being put in to bat, finishing on 122/8 in their 20 overs. The innings never quite took off, largely due to disciplined bowling from Delhi and a lack of meaningful partnerships. Deepti Sharma top-scored with 24, while Simran Shaikh added 22, but the absence of a substantial contribution proved costly. For Delhi, Marizanne Kapp was impressive with the ball, returning figures of 3 for 30, while Sree Charani chipped in with 2 for 22.

Delhi’s chase began on a shaky note when Lizelle Lee fell early, mistiming a slower delivery from Deandra Dottin to mid-off. Laura Wolvaardt, however, looked assured from the outset, timing the ball sweetly through the off side and pulling with authority. She was given two lifelines—dropped by Sophie Ecclestone and Asha Sobhana—and made UP Warriorz pay for their lapses in the field.

Shafali Verma initially struggled to find fluency but gained confidence after successfully overturning an lbw decision via review. The pair built a steady partnership, with Wolvaardt playing the anchor role. The ninth over proved crucial as Wolvaardt struck four elegant boundaries off Kranti Gaud, helping Delhi regain control of the chase.

The second-wicket stand of 73 runs ended when Deepti Sharma cleverly deceived Wolvaardt, inducing a lofted drive that was well taken at long-on. Wolvaardt departed for a well-made 47, laced with seven boundaries. Shafali soon followed, falling for 29 after cutting Shikha Pandey straight to cover.

What followed was a dramatic collapse that swung the momentum back towards UP Warriorz. Marizanne Kapp was dismissed for a duck, lofting Sophie Ecclestone straight to mid-off, while Chinelle Henry was caught and bowled by Deepti. At 100/5, with 22 runs still needed from as many balls, Delhi Capitals were suddenly under intense pressure.

Enter Jemimah Rodrigues. Showing maturity beyond her years, she took charge of the situation. A calming sweep for four off Deepti Sharma eased the nerves, followed by a confident lofted drive over extra cover against Asha Sobhana. With young Niki Prasad providing able support, Jemimah ensured Delhi did not panic.

The decisive moment came in the 19th over when Jemimah struck Deepti for two successive boundaries to level the scores. Moments later, she sealed the win in emphatic fashion with a crisp cover drive that raced to the boundary, sparking celebrations in the Delhi camp.

UP Warriorz were left to rue missed chances and an underwhelming batting effort, as sloppy catching and lack of runs ultimately cost them a place in the playoffs. For Delhi Capitals, the victory was a testament to their resilience and composure under pressure as they march confidently into the knockout stage.

Team Line-ups

UP Warriorz:
Alyssa Healy (wk), Kiran Navgire, Simran Shaikh, Deepti Sharma (c), Grace Harris, Sophie Ecclestone, Shikha Pandey, Deandra Dottin, Asha Sobhana, Kranti Gaud, Saima Thakor

Delhi Capitals:
Meg Lanning (c), Shafali Verma, Lizelle Lee, Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues, Marizanne Kapp, Chinelle Henry, Niki Prasad, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Arundhati Reddy