Delhi Capitals (DC) crushed Gujarat Giants (GG) by seven wickets in the Eliminator of the Women’s Premier League 2026 at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. It was the 21st match of the tournament. After being invited to bat, Gujarat Giants posted 168/7 in 20 overs. Beth Mooney played a hard-fought knock of 62 runs off 51 balls against the disciplined bowling of Delhi Capitals, with Georgia Wareham providing valuable support. Chinelle Henry was the most successful bowler for DC, finishing with figures of 3/35 in 4 overs.

In reply, Lizelle Lee and Shafali Verma gave Delhi Capitals an explosive start. Jemimah Rodrigues then took DC close to the finish line. When she was dismissed, DC were 160/3 and needed just nine more runs with 31 balls remaining. Marizanne Kapp sealed the win with a boundary, while Laura Wolvaardt remained unbeaten on 32 runs off 24 balls.

Delhi Capitals produced a complete team performance to defeat Gujarat Giants in the WPL Eliminator. With this victory, DC booked a place in their fourth consecutive WPL final. They will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the title clash in Vadodara on February 5.

Openers Set Up Comfortable Chase

Chasing 169, DC got off to a flying start. Lee and Shafali wiped out more than half the target with an aggressive 89-run opening partnership. They attacked from the start and never allowed GG to settle.

After their dismissal, Jemimah Rodrigues and Laura Wolvaardt ensured there were no slips. The pair added 68 runs and guided DC home with 26 balls to spare.

Gujarat Giants Collapse Early

GG came into the match with a strong record while batting first. They had won all five such games this season. However, this time their innings collapsed early.

Their troubles began in the second over. Sophie Devine, their most influential player this season, fell to Chinelle Henry. Devine chased a back-of-a-length delivery outside off and edged it to Lee, who pulled off a stunning one-handed catch.

Nandani Sharma then changed the game in the sixth over. She removed Anushka Sharma and Ashleigh Gardner on back-to-back balls. With those wickets, Nandani overtook Saika Ishaque for most wickets by an Indian in a single WPL season. She now has 16 wickets, just one behind Devine’s tally of 17.

Minnu Mani struck soon after. GG slipped to 59 for 4 and looked in serious trouble.

Beth Mooney Holds the Innings Together

Beth Mooney stood firm as wickets fell around her. After a long boundary drought of 33 balls, she finally broke free with a four off N Shree Charani.

Georgia Wareham supported her well. She rotated the strike and found timely boundaries. She also hit the first six of the match, flicking Charani cleanly over mid-off. The pair pushed GG past 100 and raised a 50-run stand.

However, Henry returned in the 17th over and dismissed Wareham, who sliced the ball straight to Wolvaardt at deep cover. Bharti Fulmali then fell for a duck.

Mooney stayed till the end. Along with Kashvee Gautam, she hit six boundaries in the final three overs. GG finished on 168, thanks to Mooney’s unbeaten 62 off 51 balls, an innings that once again showed her calm under pressure.

The Shafali-Lee Show Takes Over

DC’s opening pair of Lee and Shafali had delivered strong performances individually this season. In the Eliminator, they finally clicked together.

GG thought they had Lee caught behind in the second over and went for a review. UltraEdge showed no contact. Soon after, the openers smashed four boundaries in the first three overs.

Shafali then punished Sophie Devine in a messy over. A full delivery missed her bat and ran away for four byes. Devine then bowled five wides down the leg side. Shafali followed it up with elegant shots through covers and over mid-off.

Renuka Singh suffered next. Shafali and Lee struck five boundaries in a 21-run over. DC raced to 64 in five overs. In contrast, GG had crawled to 64 for 4 after 10 overs.

Lee kept the pressure on. She hit Rajeshwari Gayakwad for a four and a six as DC reached 75 in the powerplay. Wareham finally broke the stand in the eighth over by dismissing both openers in quick time.

Rodrigues and Wolvaardt Seal the Deal

After the openers fell, Wolvaardt and Rodrigues took charge. Wolvaardt started with a classy drive through covers. The pair played with control and flair, quickly reducing the required rate to under a run a ball.

Rodrigues then attacked Ashleigh Gardner. She smashed a slot ball outside off straight over mid-off for a huge six. Wolvaardt followed with a moment of elegance, stepping down to Gayakwad and lofting her cleanly over long-on.

Rodrigues scored a brisk 41 off 23 balls. By the time she got out, DC needed just nine runs from 31 deliveries.

Marizanne Kapp finished the chase in the 16th over. She smashed Wareham back over her head for four and sent DC into yet another WPL final.