WPL 2023: Delhi Capitals qualify for final after topping table, MI to face UP Warriorz in Eliminator
Delhi Capitals stormed into the final of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023 after finishing.
As the table-toppers in the group stage courtesy of a thumping five-wicket win over UP Warriorz in the last group match at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai on Tuesday. DC’s sixth win in the WPL 2023 ensured that the Meg Lanning-led side upstaged the Harmanpreet Kaur-led MI at the top of the table.
Mumbai Indians will now take on UP Warriorz in the WPL 2023 Eliminator on March 24 with the winner facing Delhi Capitals in the summit clash of the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League on March 26 at the Brabourne Stadium. Notably, MI also ended the league stage of the Women’s Premier League with six wins out of eight matches on Tuesday but failed to surpass DC’s NRR.
March 24: Mumbai Indians vs UP Warriorz, Eliminator at Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai
March 26: Delhi Capitals vs TBC, WPL Final at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai
DC OUTCLASS UPW
Delhi Capitals rode on the all-round heroics of Alice Capsey to hammer UP Warriorz by five wickets and finish the league stage of the WPL with six wins out of the eight matches on Tuesday.
MI had defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by four wickets earlier in the day, leaving DC with the task of not only defeating UPW but also maintaining a higher run rate in order to secure a direct spot in the final. The opening pair of Lanning and Shafali Verma went on a boundary-hitting spree, scoring 56 runs off 29 balls.
If Lanning started things off with three fours and a six in a 20-run first over off Shabnim Ismail, Shafali followed suit with four hits to the fence in a 16-ball 21-run cameo. Ismail returned to trap Jemimah Rodrigues and then removed Lanning, who was caught by Simran Shaikh in the deep after Shafali was holed out to Soppadhandi Yashasri off Sophie Ecclestone’s bowling, as DC suddenly slumped to 70 for three.
UPW attempted to tighten the screws, but Capsey hit three boundaries in four balls off Ecclestone to keep DC in contention. Capsey slog-swept Deepti Sharma past mid-wicket for another boundary as DC reached 100 in 12 overs. Marizanne Kapp (34 not out off 31) smashed another maximum as DC reached 130 for three in 16 overs. Ecclestone managed to send back Capsey after two balls, while a mix-up cost Jess Jonassen’s wicket, but Kapp kept her cool to hit the winning runs.
Earlier, DC came up with a disciplined bowling effort to restrict UPW to 138 for six after Lanning won the toss and opted to bowl first. Alice Capsey (3/26) and left-arm spinner Radha Yadav (2/28) starred with the ball for Delhi Capitals in the final group game of the WPL 2023. Tahila McGrath (58 not out of 32) top-scored for UP Warriorz, while skipper Alyssa Healy made 36.