By Victoria Hamilton 
Delhi Capitals (DC) surged to second place in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 standings with a thrilling seven-wicket victory over UP Warriorz (UPW) in Match 6 at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. The nail-biting contest, which went down to the final ball, saw DC successfully chase down 167, leaving UP Warriorz winless at the bottom of the table. Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) remain at the top with four points at the end of the Vadodara leg.
Meg Lanning Shines as DC’s Chase Master
DC skipper Meg Lanning, the highest run-scorer in WPL history, bounced back in style after quiet outings against Mumbai Indians (MI) and RCB. Her brilliant 69 off 49 balls anchored DC’s chase, setting the platform for a dramatic finish. Annabel Sutherland (41 off 35)* and Marizanne Kapp (29 off 17)* held their nerve to take DC over the line with just one ball to spare.
Despite an early blitz by Kiran Navgire (51 off 27), which helped UPW post 166/7, their bowlers couldn’t hold off DC’s composed batting lineup.
Navgire’s Fireworks Set the Stage for UPW
Winning the toss and opting to bowl, DC had no answer early on to Kiran Navgire’s aggression. The powerful right-hander took apart Shikha Pandey, Marizanne Kapp, and Jess Jonassen, racing to 50 off just 24 balls with six fours and three sixes. Partnering with Vrinda Dinesh (16 off 15), Navgire helped UPW reach 58/0 in just five overs.
However, DC’s bowlers mounted a strong comeback, led by Annabel Sutherland (2/26), who dismissed both openers in quick succession. Jess Jonassen and Minnu Mani tightened the screws, removing Tahlia McGrath (6) and Deepti Sharma (4) to leave UPW reeling at 83/4 at the 10-over mark.
Late Flourish by Chinelle Henry Lifts UPW to 166/7
With wickets falling at regular intervals, UPW needed a rescue act, and Shweta Sehrawat (37 off 33) and Chinelle Henry (33 off 15)* stepped up. Making her WPL debut, Henry provided the perfect late boost, smashing powerful boundaries to push UPW’s total to a competitive 166/7.
Despite the strong finish, DC’s disciplined bowling, especially from Sutherland and Jonassen, ensured UPW didn’t breach the 170-mark.
Lanning Leads the Charge in a Tense Run Chase
DC openers Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma got off to a flying start, putting on 59 runs in the powerplay. Verma (25 off 14) fell after a mix-up, and Jemimah Rodrigues (2) departed soon after, miscuing a sweep off Sophie Ecclestone.
Lanning continued her counterattack, reaching her half-century off 34 balls, before Grace Harris cleaned her up in the 15th over. At 116/3, DC still needed 51 runs in the final five overs, and the match hung in the balance.
Sutherland and Kapp Steer DC to Victory in a Thriller
The experienced Marizanne Kapp took charge with some aggressive hitting, while Sutherland played the anchor role. UPW had their chances, most notably when Alana King dropped Kapp in the 19th over.
With 11 runs required off the final over, Sutherland took the pressure off with two crucial boundaries off McGrath. With one run needed off two balls, UPW botched a simple run-out opportunity, allowing Kapp to complete the winning run and secure DC’s dramatic victory.
Brief scores:
UP Warriorz 166/7 in 20 overs (Kiran Navgire 51, Shweta Sehrawat 37, Chinelle Henry 33, Annabel Sutherland 2-26).
Delhi Capitals 167/3 in 19.5 overs (Meg Lanning 69, Annabel Sutherland 41, Marizanne Kapp 29, Grace Harris 1-11)
Zainab Shafiq