WPL 2026, Eliminator: All-round DC thrash Giants to set up final with RCB

An all-round show from Delhi Capitals against Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 Eliminator fired them to their fourth consecutive final in the tournament. They will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Vadodara on February 5.

The Capitals made light work of the 169-run target, reaching there in just 15.4 overs courtesy of the brilliant start from openers Lizelle Lee and Shafali Varma, who ransacked 89 runs in seven overs, castigating the opponent bowlers rather mercilessly.

Lee showed some early intent as she pulled Renuka Thakur for a boundary off the second ball of the chase before Shafali tore into Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Sophie Devine, picking two boundaries off each in consecutive overs with field restrictions in place.

The duo then pummelled the hapless Renuka for five boundaries in the 21-run fifth over, including a hat-trick of fours from Lee. She continued the onslaught against Gayakwad in the next over, slapping a four past point and mowing a six over deep midwicket as DC raced off to an ominous 75 for no loss in the powerplay.

GG finally had a moment to cheer with Georgia Wareham’s double-wicket over, removing both the openers. She trapped Lee lbw, and she burnt a review before walking back for 43 off 24 with eight fours and a six while Shafali chopped on, going back for 31 off 21 with seven fours.

Laura Woolvardt and Jemimah Rodrigues, however, did the rest in their 68-run stand for the third wicket, rebuilding after Wareham’s twin strikes briefly threatened to derail the chase. Rodrigues (41 off 23) struck four boundaries and sent Ashleigh Gardner over mid-off for a six before holing out in the same region off Gayakwad in the 15th over. Woolvardt looked fluent in her unbeaten 32 off 24, and witnessed Marizanne Kapp seal the game with a boundary.

Earlier, GG were put to some stern test by DC bowlers’ accuracy and discipline. Put in to bat, they were rocked thrice in the powerplay. Chinelle Henry inflicted some early damage, as she had Devine caught behind.

Nandani Sharma then struck on successive deliveries in the final over of the powerplay, as Anushka Sharma (16 off 13) deposited a catch straight to Henry at mid-on, while Gardner edged it to first slip to register a golden duck. When Minnu Mani had Kanika Ahuja stumped, GG were in all sorts of trouble at 59 for 4.

Wareham, however, arrested the slide and played the aggressor in the 46-ball 61-run stand with Mooney for the fifth wicket. Mooney, who saw wickets tumbling at the opposite end, played the anchor throughout her 62 off 51.

If GG had any plans of flourishing after the recovery, those were dented by Henry’s double-wicket 17th over as Wareham (35 off 25) holed out to Wolvaardt at deep cover, and Bharti Fulmali handed a return catch to the bowler. Kashvee Gautam hit three fours in her brief 10-ball stay for 18 runs, but that could drag GG only to 168 for 7, which proved insufficient in the end.