Delhi Capitals (DC) defeated UP Warriorz (UPW) by five wickets in the 20th match of the Women’s Premier League 2026 at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. DC first restricted UP Warriorz to 122/8 in 20 overs.

While chasing the target, DC stumbled badly when they needed 40 runs from 48 balls. Mumbai Indians (MI), the defending champions, watched closely, as a DC loss would have taken MI into the playoffs. However, Jemimah Rodrigues stayed calm under pressure. She finished the job and ensured DC qualified for the playoffs once again. As a result, MI bowed out of the tournament.

A Finish That Nearly Went Wrong

DC needed 27 runs from 36 balls. Shafali Verma and Rodrigues were at the crease. Shafali struggled on a pitch where the ball stopped slightly. She was not timing the ball well. UPW had even dropped her earlier at deep midwicket.

Her dismissal summed up her poor night. Shikha Pandey bowled a short ball outside off. Shafali hit it straight to cover-point.

Soon after, UPW trapped Marizanne Kapp smartly. They kept mid-off and mid-on inside the circle. Kapp went for a big shot and failed. Kranti Gaud took a safe catch at mid-off.

Chinelle Henry followed quickly. She tried to hit Deepti Sharma straight but popped the ball back to the bowler. She scored just 1 off 4 balls.

DC lost three wickets for four runs. Pressure mounted suddenly.

Rodrigues Holds Her Nerve

Captain Jemimah Rodrigues refused to panic. She kept the scoreboard moving with sharp running. She found gaps with ease. Rodrigues swept Deepti Sharma through midwicket in the 17th over. In the next over, she attacked Asha Sobhana. She lofted her leg-spin inside out over cover.

Rodrigues stayed unbeaten on 34 off 18 balls. Her knock all but confirmed DC’s place in the playoffs.

Wolvaardt Rides Her Luck Early

UPW needed wickets to stay alive and keep MI’s hopes alive. Deandra Dottin, who replaced Chloe Tryon, struck early. She removed Lizelle Lee with her fifth ball. Lee fell to a running catch at mid-off.

UPW bowled Shikha Pandey and Dottin through the powerplay. They held back Gaud until the seventh over. The tactic worked to an extent. DC struggled to dominate early.

However, UPW missed key chances.

Laura Wolvaardt enjoyed some luck. Sophie Ecclestone dropped her at midwicket in the fourth over. In the next over, Dottin could only get fingertips to a hard shot at backward point. Later, Asha Sobhana dropped a simple chance at short third.

Wolvaardt made UPW pay. In Gaud’s second over, she broke free. She struck four boundaries in the ninth over and put DC on track.

Kapp and Henry Set the Tone With the Ball

Marizanne Kapp did not bowl the first over for only the seventh time in WPL history. Chinelle Henry opened instead. She delivered instantly.

Henry bowled an outswinger that trapped Meg Lanning lbw. Lanning departed for a first-ball duck.

UPW never recovered from the early blow. Deepti Sharma and debutant Charli Knott tried to counterattack. Still, UPW lost three wickets in the powerplay. They lost five within ten overs.

Kapp conceded runs at over eight an over early. Yet, she bowled ten dot balls. She also picked two key wickets. Kapp removed Knott with a bouncer. She then dismissed Deepti with a sliced shot caught at extra cover.

UPW played 31 dot balls in their first eight overs. The pressure kept building.

Late Cameos Lift UP Warriorz Total

Simran Shaikh showed intent despite falling wickets. She struck Kapp through the off side. She used the sweep and reverse sweep against Minnu Mani. Simran fell just as she looked settled.

Shikha Pandey provided the final push. She scored 23 not out from 13 balls. She hit three boundaries at the death.

Pandey added an unbeaten 28 runs with Sophie Ecclestone. UPW crossed a run-a-ball scoring rate late on. They finished at 122 for 8. At 76 for 7 earlier, that total had looked unlikely.

DC crossed the line with nerves intact. Rodrigues’ calm finish made the difference. The result sealed DC’s playoff place and ended MI’s title defence.