DC Women Edge Out UP Warriorz to Seal Playoff Spot

DC Women Edge Out UP Warriorz to Seal Playoff Spot

UP Warriorz Women vs Delhi Capitals Women, 20th Match, Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026

Venue: BCA Stadium, Kotambi, Vadodara Date: February 1, 2026 Result: Delhi Capitals Women won by 5 wickets (with 8 balls remaining)

                    Delhi Capitals Women secured their spot in the playoffs (specifically the Eliminator) with a hard-fought victory over UP Warriorz Women in the final league-stage match of WPL 2026.

            This win not only propelled DC to the third position on the points table but also eliminated the defending champions, Mumbai Indians Women, from contention.

Toss and Decision

Delhi Capitals Women, led by captain Jemimah Rodrigues, won the toss and elected to field first under lights at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. The decision paid off as their bowlers applied early pressure on the UP Warriorz batting lineup.

UP Warriorz Innings: 122/8 (20 overs)

UP Warriorz struggled to build momentum throughout their innings, posting a below-par total on a surface that offered some assistance to the seamers and spinners. Their top order faltered, with regular wickets preventing any substantial partnerships.

Key contributions:
Deepti Sharma top-scored with 24 runs, providing some resistance in the middle order.

Shweta Pandey remained unbeaten on 23, but came too late to accelerate significantly.

Delhi's bowling attack was clinical:
Marizanne Kapp was the standout performer, claiming 3 wickets for 30 runs in her 4 overs. Her spell included crucial breakthroughs, earning her the Player of the Match award.

Charani chipped in with 2 wickets for 22 runs.
The bowlers restricted UPW to a modest 122/8, with extras and tight fielding adding to the pressure.

The innings featured a collapse and lacked big hits, as UP Warriorz could only manage a run rate that never truly took off.

Delhi Capitals Innings: 126/5 (18.4 overs)

Chasing a target of 123, Delhi Capitals started solidly but encountered a dramatic mid-innings wobble. Openers Laura Wolvaardt and Shafali Verma provided a stable platform, but a collapse of 3 wickets for just 4 runs (from 98/4 to something like 101/5 or similar in phases) injected nerves into the chase.

Standout performances:
Laura Wolvaardt anchored the innings with a composed 47 off 36 balls, blending elegant drives and smart running.

Captain Jemimah Rodrigues played the defining knock, finishing unbeaten on 34 off 18 balls (including 5 fours). Her aggressive yet calculated approach in the death overs sealed the game. In the final over, she stepped down the track to Deepti Sharma and drilled a half-volley past extra cover for the winning boundary, sparking celebrations.
Niki Prasad supported her skipper with an unbeaten 4 off 6 in the tense finish.

For UP Warriorz, Deepti Sharma was economical and picked up 2 wickets for 27 runs, but it wasn't enough to defend the low total.

The chase was completed in 18.4 overs, with 8 balls to spare, showcasing DC's composure under pressure despite the late scare.

Match Impact and Context

This result marked Delhi Capitals as the only team to qualify for the playoffs in all four editions of the WPL. The victory pushed them to 8 points and third place, setting up an Eliminator clash against Gujarat Giants on February 3 at the same venue. Royal Challengers Bengaluru topped the table, with Gujarat Giants also qualifying.

For UP Warriorz, the loss confirmed their bottom-table finish for the second consecutive season, ending their campaign without playoff qualification.

Player of the Match: Marizanne Kapp (for her match-turning 3/30 with the ball).

The match highlighted the competitive nature of WPL 2026, where the final league game decided playoff fates, and individual brilliance from players like Kapp and Rodrigues proved decisive in a low-scoring thriller. Delhi's ability to recover from setbacks and finish strongly underlined their playoff pedigree.