WPL 2024, Match 4: UP Warriorz Women vs Delhi Capitals Women Match Preview

The games are coming thick and fast in the second season of the Women's Premier League (WPL 2024) as UP Warriorz are set to face Delhi Capitals in match 4 on Monday, February 26, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Delhi Capitals played in the opening game of WPL 2024 against defending champions Mumbai Indians. The match turned out to be a thrilling affair as it swayed multiple times from one end to the other. Alice Capsey starred with a 53-ball 75, hitting nine fours and three sixes. Jemimah Rodrigues played a blinder of an innings of 42 runs from 24 balls and her 74-run partnership off 40 deliveries with Capsey was a treat to watch. They finished at 171/5 in their 20 overs.

In reply, Mumbai Indians were lifted by fifties from Yastika Bhatia and Harmanpreet Kaur. However, when Capsey dismissed Kaur off the penultimate delivery of the match, Mumbai still needed five runs and Delhi would have smelt the win. New batter Sajeevan Sajana came out to the crease and calmly deposited a six over the long-on region to win her team the humdinger and break Delhi's hearts. Arundhati Reddy was the pick of the bowlers for Meg Lanning's side as she finished with figures of 2/27 in four overs.

UP Warriorz also suffered an agonising defeat in their first game of the WPL 2024 against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Smriti Mandhana and Co. scored 157/6 in their 20 overs on the back of Richa Ghosh's scintillating knock of 62 off 37 balls. Rajeshwari Gayakwad starred with the ball for the Warriorz as she picked up two wickets, conceding 24 runs in four overs.

In the run-chase, the Warriorz were quite slow to get out of the blocks. In fact, in their first 10 overs, they scored 63 runs for the loss of three wickets. Grace Harris (38 off 23) and Shweta Sehrawat formed a much-needed partnership of 77 runs off 46 balls for the fourth wicket to bring the Warriorz back into the contest. Poonam Khemmar and Deepti Sharma tried their best to take their team home. However, the Uttar Pradesh-based franchise eventually lost by two runs after Deepti could only manage two runs off the last ball when five were needed for a win.

Both teams will want to forget their painful defeats in their respective first games and get their first win of the tournament. With many star players on both sides, fans can expect another tight contest.

M Chinnaswamy Stadium Pitch Report

The M Chinnaswamy Stadium provides some fantastic batting wickets. In the first couple of games, teams haven't made the most of the powerplays and the big-hitting has been confined to the backend of the innings. If the openers can express themselves when the field is in and the ball is hard, a lot of runs could be there for the taking.

UP-W vs DEL-W XI, WPL 2024 Match 4:

UP Warriorz Women (UP-W) XI

Chamari Athapaththu and Danielle Wyatt are two exciting players who found themselves on the bench in the first game. However, it will be tough for them to get a look in as the Warriorz already have a star-studded overseas line-up in the playing XI. Vrinda Dinesh struggled in the first game, scoring 18 off 28 balls. She is an exciting prospect and she will get to learn a lot, opening alongside Alyssa Healy. UP fans will hope to see the best of the 23-year-old against Delhi.

Alyssa Healy (c/wk), Vrinda Dinesh, Tahlia McGrath, Grace Harris, Shweta Sehrawat, Kiran Navgire, Poonam Khemnar, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Saima Thakor

Delhi Capitals Women (DEL-W) XI

Shafali Verma had a forgettable start to the campaign as she scored a solitary run off eight balls in the first game. Delhi fans will hope that the flamboyant batter comes good in the second game and lights up the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Meg Lanning has the experienced Jess Jonassen in their ranks but it will be tough to fit her in the line-up. Delhi also have Titas Sadhu in their squad but the youngster might have to wait for her chance as the team management might not look to tinker too much after just one loss.

Meg Lanning (c), Shafali Verma, Alice Capsey, Jemimah Rodrigues, Marizanne Kapp, Annabel Sutherland, Arundhati Reddy, Minnu Mani, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Radha Yadav, Shikha Pandey

UP-W vs DEL-W Head-to-Head Records: