Eliminator: DC beat GG, qualify for their fourth WPL final
What's the story
Delhi Capitals have advanced to their fourth straight final in the Women's Premier League, having thrashed Gujarat Giants by seven wickets in the Eliminator clash in Vadodara on Tuesday. It was a convincing win for the Capitals as they comfortably chased down the 169-run target. Each of their top four batters fired as Beth Mooney's half-century went in vain. Here are the key stats.
1st innings
GG posted a strong score
Batting first, GG got off to a rocky start as they were reduced to 59/4 at one stage. However, Mooney, who returned unbeaten on 62, continued to hold one end. She powered the team with a 61-run stand for the fifth wicket alongside Georgia Wareham, who made 35. Mooney remained unfazed till the end as GG posted a challenging total (168/7).
Chase
Openers power the Capitals
Openers Lizelle Lee (43) and Shafali Verma (31) handed the Capitals a dream start, adding 89 runs in just 7.1 overs. This partnership virtually sealed the game for DC. Laura Wolvaardt (32*) and captain Jemimah Rodrigues (41) stepped on the solid foundation with a 68-run third-wicket stand. DC went past the line in the 16th over.
Mooney
Mooney smashes her seventh WPL fifty
Mooney smashed six fours en route to her 51-ball 62*. According to ESPNcricinfo, Mooney completed her seventh half-century in the WPL. She has raced to 780 runs at an average of 35.45. Her tally includes a strike rate of 129.78. The Australian, who has been with the Giants since the inaugural WPL edition, has completed 258 runs in WPL 2026 at 32.25 (50s: 2).
Information
Two fifties against DC
Each of Mooney's two half-centuries in WPL 2026 has come against the Capitals. In Match 17 of the competition, Mooney powered Gujarat Giants with a 58-run knock off 46 balls. GG went on to win the game by three runs.
DC bowlers
Chinelle Henry and Nandni Sharma made ball talk for DC
DC's Chinelle Henry was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3/35 in her four overs. This spell took her WPL 2026 tally to 12 wickets at an average of 17.91. Nandni Sharma also impressed with her bowling, taking 2/44 in four overs. With 16 wickets at 17.18, she is the second-leading wicket-taker in the ongoing event.
DC openers
Key stats for Lee, Shafali
Lee top scored for DC, hammering 43 off 24 balls with the help of eight fours and a six. Playing her maiden WPL season, the batter has completed 283 runs at 31.44 (50s: 2). Her fellow opener Shafali made 31 off 27 balls, having tallied seven fours. The dasher's season tally reads 239 runs at 26.55. Overall, she boasts 1,104 runs in the competition at 33.45.
Rodrigues
Captain's hand from Rodrigues
DC skipper Rodrigues also played a fine hand - 41 off 23 balls (4 fours, 1 six). She has completed 714 runs in the league at 28.56. In WPL 2026, the batter has recorded 207 runs at 29.57. Wolvaardt, who returned unbeaten on 32, smashed two fours and a six during her 24-ball stay. She now has 273 runs in the ongoing season at 45.50.
DYK
Which is the other team to qualify for the final?
DC will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final on February 6. Smriti Mandhana's team advanced to the summit clash on the virtue of topping the points table. It will be a rematch of the 2024 WPL final, which saw RCB prevail.