WPL: Shafali ensures Delhi stays on top after the league stage
Delhi Capitals Women beat Gujarat Giants Women by seven wickets in Match 20 of the Women’s Premier League on Wednesday, March 13 at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. After opting to bat first, Gujarat was left reeling at 48/5 after 10.2 overs Marizanne Kapp and Minnu Mani ran through their top order.
With Gujarat in disarray, Bharati Fulmali (42 off 36) and Kathryn Bryce (28* off 22) got involved in a crucial 68-run standoff 50 balls to guide their team to a respectable total of 126/9. In reply, Delhi lost their captain Meg Lanning (18 off 10) and Alice Capsey (0 off 4) in the fourth over leaving their side at 31/2 after 3.5 overs.
However, Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues (38* off 28) didn’t let GG make a comeback in the game and got involved in a match-winning stand of 94 off 55 balls to guide their team home.
Top Performers of the Match
Shafali Verma (71 off 37)
The aggressive opener walked out to bat with clear intent of finishing the game quickly as she took on Gujarat bowlers right from the word go. Verma was unfazed was unfazed by what was happening at the other end and continued to smack GG bowlers all over to park and raced to her fifty off just 28 balls with a boundary against Mannat Kashyap. She was eventually dismissed for a scintillating 71 (37) with the help of seven fours and five sixes.
Marizanne Kapp (2/17)
The Proteas all-rounder continued her good show with the new ball as she got the prized scalp of Gujarat skipper Beth Mooney (0 off 5) in the first over itself by destroying her stumps. Kapp further dismissed Mooney’s in-form opening partner Laura Wolvaardt (7 off 11) in her third over and finished her spell with figures of 2/17 in four overs.
What’s next for both teams?
Gujarat suffered their fifth loss of the season and finished last on the points table with two wins from eight matches having four points to their name. As a result, they failed to qualify for the knockout round and were eliminated from the tournament. On the other hand, with their win, Delhi finished on the top
