Delhi Capitals became the first team to reach the final of the Women’s Premier League after coming off a last-ball defeat in the very first match of the season. The Meg Lanning-led Delhi team beat Gujarat Giants by 7 wickets in the last league match of WPL 2024 to top the points table and make it to the finals. In the first season last year, Delhi made it to the finals but lost to Mumbai Indians in the finals.
Final match between Delhi and Gujarat
Playing at their home ground Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi Capitals easily defeated Gujarat. In this match, Gujarat won the toss and elected to bat first, but the team led by Beth Mooney could not capitalize on her selection decision. Gujarat’s batsmen could not cope with the powerful fast bowling duo of Marijan Kepp (2/17) and Shikha Pandey (2/23).
Delhi defeated Gujarat
Gujarat lost 3 wickets for just 16 runs and 5 wickets to score 48 runs. Australia’s young batsman Phoebe Lichfield who was the most talked about auction before this season failed once again and managed just 21 runs. In the lower-middle order, Bharti Phulmali (42) and Catherine Bryce (28 not out) put on a vital 68-run partnership to put the team in a better position. However, the entire team could score only 126 runs in 20 overs, losing 9 wickets.
A clinical chase and a superb seven-wicket win!@DelhiCapitals are through to the #TATAWPL Final
Scorecard https://t.co/qXiPrN2sAj#DCvGG pic.twitter.com/q0FnUtJonH
— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) March 13, 2024
Delhi in the final of the WPL
Chasing a target of 127 runs, captain Lanning and Shefali Verma got off to a strong start again for Delhi Capitals. However, a misunderstanding led to Lanning (18) being run out, while Alice Kepsey could not even open the account. However, Shefali along with Jemimah Rodriguez gave Gujarat no chance to make a comeback. Shefali scored an explosive half-century off just 28 balls. Just 2 runs short of victory, Shefali was dismissed for 71 (37 balls, 7 fours, 5 sixes), but Jemimah (38 not out) hit a four off the first ball of the 14th over to give the team victory. Delhi reached the finals of WPL with this win.
Roaring into the @DelhiCapitals are one step closer for the ultimate prize #TATAWPL | #Final | #DCvGG pic.twitter.com/Z5KnvUofl9
— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) March 13, 2024
Who will face in the final?
Delhi won 6 out of 8 matches in the league stage and finished first with a total of 12 points. As per the league format, the first place team out of 5 teams directly enters the finals. An eliminator match is played between the second and third placed teams. This time, last season’s champions Mumbai Indians are in the second position and Royal Challengers Bangalore are in the third position. The two will face each other on March 15 and the winning team will face Delhi in the final on March 17.
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