WPL 2024, Match 4 Review: Marizanne Kapp, Shafali Verma leave UP Warriorz gasping for breath

Delhi Capitals won their first game of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2024 after beating UP Warriorz comprehensively by nine wickets at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Monday, February 26.

Delhi won the toss and had no hesitation in opting to bowl first. Meg Lanning's decision at the toss was backed up by a scintillating spell from Marizanne Kapp with the new ball. The South African veteran bowled four overs on the trot with the new ball and picked up the wickets of Alyssa Healy, Vrinda Dinesh, and Tahlia McGrath. The right-arm pacer conceded just five runs in her four-over spell and also bowled a maiden inside the powerplay.

Wickets kept on tumbling as Shweta Sehrawat waged a lone battle from one end. The 20-year-old scored 45 off 42 balls but didn't get adequate support from her teammates. Eventually, the Warriorz struggled their way to 119/9 in 20 overs. Apart from Kapp, Radha Yadav starred with the ball as she finished with figures of 4/20 in her four overs. Arundhati Reddy and Annabel Sutherland chipped in with one wicket apiece.

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Defending a paltry score, UP Warriorz needed early wickets. However, the Delhi opening duo of Lanning and Shafali Verma came out all guns blazing and amassed 57 runs in the powerplay. The inspirational skipper departed after getting to her half-century as Sophie Ecclestone struck when the scores were level.

Jemimah Rodrigues came out to the middle and took just one ball to finish the proceedings. A lap shot to fine leg yielded her a boundary and took Delhi to a lop-sided win with nine wickets and 33 balls to spare. Shafali was the star of the show with the bat. The right-handed batter smashed 64 runs off just 43 balls and remained unbeaten at the end. Her fluent innings was studded with six fours and four sixes. Kapp was awarded Player of the Match for her phenomenal bowling performance that laid the foundation for a Delhi victory.