Delhi Capitals became the first team to enter the final of the Women's Premier League 2024 with a huge seven-wicket win over Gujarat Giants in the last league stage game on Wednesday.
After an impressive bowling performance from DC bowlers, the star opener Shafali Verma smashed 71 off just 37 balls to help Delhi chase a 127-run target in just 13.1 overs. A win confirmed a top spot for Delhi who recorded 12 points in eight games while Gujarat finished at the bottom with just two wins in WPL 2024.
Gujarat Giants were knocked out from the playoff qualification race on Tuesday after Royal Challengers Bangalore secured the third position in the points table with a stunning win over second-placed Mumbai. They entered the game with a hope of not finishing last in the consecutive season but Delhi produced a dominant performance in a one-sided result at Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Delhi Capitals, who entered the final of the 2023 edition by finishing top in the league stages, were off to a great start against Gujarat on Wednesday. South African all-rounder clean bowled Gujarat captain Beth Mooney on a duck in the first over and also dismissed star opener Laura Wolvaardt in the fifth over.
Gujarat lost the first five wickets on just 48 runs but Bharti Fulmali scored 42 runs off 36 balls and Scotland skipper Kathryn Bryce added crucial 28* runs to help the team post 126/9 in the last league stage game of the season. Minnu Mani, Shikha Pandey and Kapp took two wickets each for Delhi Capitals.
Chasing a low-scoring target, in-form captain Meg Lanning smashed four boundaries off Bryce in the second over to clear Delhi's intentions for a big win. However, Gujarat managed to raise some hopes with successive wickets of Lanning and Alice Capsey in the fourth over but couldn't build the momentum.
Shafali and Jemimah added match-defining 94 runs for the third wicket in just 65 balls. Shafali smashed 71 off just 37 balls with the help of seven fours and five sixes before losing her wicket to Tanuja Kanwar in the 13th over. Jemimah remained unbeaten on 38 runs to secure an easy finish for Delhi and a place in the final.
Gujarat Giants Playing XI: Laura Wolvaardt, Beth Mooney (c & wk), Dayalan Hemalatha, Phoebe Litchfield, Ashleigh Gardner, Bharati Fulmali, Kathryn Bryce, Tanuja Kanwar, Shabnam Md Shakil, Meghna Singh, Mannat Kashyap.
Delhi Capitals Women Playing XI: Meg Lanning (c), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Alice Capsey, Marizanne Kapp, Jess Jonassen, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Shikha Pandey, Minnu Mani.
