WPL: DC finish on top of table with convincing win over GG

Shafali Verma’s magnificent 71(37) propelled Delhi Capitals to a 7-wicket win after GG were restricted to 126/9 in the first innings.

Chasing 127 to win, Delhi Capitals openers commenced the chase in style with a boundary-filled start.

It was Meg Lanning who led the start of aggressive stroke-play by creaming four fours in the second over, bowled by Kathryn Bryce.
Shafali demonstrated an equal attacking display from the end after scoring 12 off the 3rd over. GG found the opening breakthrough of a run-out as a mix-up between the DC openers resulted in the wicket of Meg Lanning.

GG didn’t let the next batter, Alice Capsey, settle in as the right-handed batter was out without scoring. The Delhi Capitals finished the powerplay with 45/2 on board.

The consecutive breakthroughs didn’t break the ever-so-fearless Shafali, who clubbed dual maximums in the very next over, bowled by Ash Gardner.

With Shafali Verma dispatching the ball to the stands, Jemimah Rodrigues smartly rotated the strike at the other end. The fifty partnership was up between the duo as DC reached 82/2 at the halfway stage.

Shafali reached her third fifty of the season as the home side were in a hurry to wrap the chase, with two in-form batters in the middle.

20 runs were scored in the 12th over courtesy of three fours and a maximum from the Indian batting duo.

The match saw an anti-climax with Shafali Verma getting out after nearly chasing down the total. It was Jemimah Rodrigues with the winning runs as DC chased down the target with over six overs to spare.

Earlier, Gujarat Giants won the toss and elected to bat first. While GG remained unchanged, DC included Minnu Mani, who replaced Titas Sadhu in the Playing XI.

The Gujarat Giants had a shaky start as they lost Captain Beth Mooney and Dayalan Hemalatha early in the powerplay. While Mooney was bowled down the leg side, Jess Jonassen knocked the stumps of Hemalatha.

The powerplay belonged to the home side after Phoebe Litchfield was caught inside the circle and GG were reduced to 23/3 after 6 overs.

DC’s disciplined bowling and Meg Lanning’s fielding placements ensured the pressure remained on GG batters. Minnu Mani claimed her maiden WPL wicket with a ball that crashed into the stumps of Ashleigh Gardner and GG were 42/4 at the halfway mark.

Phoebe Litchfield, who was batting on 15*, smacked a maximum immediately after the powerplay against Minnu Mani but the DC bowler bounced back on the very next ball as Litchfield was caught at mid-on.

Bharati Fulmali, who was joined by Kathryn Bryce in the middle, took charge of the striking as she swiftly moved to 28*(24) with five fours, as GG reached 82/5 with five overs to go.

The fifty partnership was up for the 6th wicket as GG sailed past 100, eyeing for a strong finish with two overs to go. However, Shikha Pandey not only struck twice in the penultimate over but also brought an end to a fine 68-run partnership.

With 10 runs coming to the final over of the innings, GG finished with 126/9.