The atmosphere at the Kotambi International Cricket Stadium in Vadodara was lively this Sunday as the Delhi Capitals (DC) Women secured their place in the WPL 2026 Playoffs. In a crucial 20th match of the season, DC defeated the UP Warriorz (UPW) by five wickets, thanks to an outstanding bowling performance from Marizanne Kapp and a steady innings led by Laura Wolvaardt.
Marizanne Kapp dominates UP Warriorz’s batting
Delhi Capitals won the toss and chose to bowl, making their strategy clear right away. Chinelle Henry set the tone by getting rid of the dangerous Meg Lanning on the very first ball. However, it was Kapp who truly troubled the Warriorz. Her opening spell showcased top-notch seam bowling, finishing with impressive figures of 3/30.
Kapp dismantled the UPW batting order, taking out Charli Knott (12) and the in-form Deepti Sharma (24) just as they began to build a partnership. She then successfully appealed for LBW against Deandra Dottin (5), leaving the Warriorz struggling at 52/5 within ten overs. Despite a late effort from Shikha Pandey, who scored an unbeaten 23 off 13 balls, and a steady contribution of 10 from Sophie Ecclestone, UPW finished with a disappointing total of 122/8. The DC bowling unit worked effectively, with Shree Charani and Henry adding two wickets each to keep up the pressure.
Laura Wolvaardt and Jemimah Rodrigues lead Delhi Capitals to victory
Chasing a modest target of 123, the Delhi Capitals stumbled early when Lizelle Lee was dismissed by Dottin in the second over. Nonetheless, Wolvaardt anchored the innings with a well-played 47 off 36 balls. Her classic cover drives and perfect timing helped her form a vital 73-run partnership with Shafali Verma (29), taking control away from the Warriorz.
A brief period of uncertainty occurred during the middle overs when Deepti took two quick wickets, removing Wolvaardt and Henry. When Kapp was dismissed for a duck by Ecclestone, the score stood at 101/5, and the crowd held its breath. However, captain Jemimah Rodrigues displayed her strength by scoring a rapid 34 off just 18 balls. Her aggressive batting turned the game back in favor of DC, as she hit five boundaries to seal the win with eight balls remaining.
This victory firmly places Delhi Capitals among the title favorites, moving them into the top three on the table and ensuring their playoff spot. For the UP Warriorz, this defeat marks a tough end to their season, as DC’s performance was celebrated by the crowd in attendance.
Here’s how fans reacted:
