Delhi Capitals did enough when it mattered, holding their nerve in a tense chase to beat UP Warriors by five wickets and book their place in the WPL 2026 Eliminator on Sunday. The win not only extended DC’s remarkable record of making the playoffs in every season so far, but also confirmed the exit of defending champions Mumbai Indians from the tournament.
Set a modest target of 123, the Capitals appeared to be cruising early before a late wobble threatened to undo their work. They eventually reached 126 for five with eight balls to spare, thanks to a composed finish by captain Jemimah Rodrigues, who remained unbeaten on 34 off 18 balls, and youngster Niki Prasad, who remained calm at the other end to seal the result.
DC vs UPW, WPL 2026: Highlights
Pitchers set the platform for the Capitals
The chase was built on a solid foundation laid by Laura Wolvaardt and Shafali Verma. After an early strike with the dismissal of Lizelle Lee, the pair leveled the innings with a 73-run stand. Wolvaardt anchored the effort with a patient 47 off 36 balls, hitting seven boundaries, while Shafali played a supporting role with a measured 29.
Just when the finish line seemed comfortably in sight, Delhi went astray. They slumped from 84 for one to 101 for five, allowing the UP Warriors to sniff out a dramatic turnaround. Sophie Ecclestone and Deepti Sharma held firm and picked up key wickets, but the lack of runs on the board hurt UPW in the end. Jemimah put an end to any remaining doubts by hitting Deepti two crucial boundaries in the penultimate over.
Calm Jemimah wins it for Delhi, ends MI’s run
Earlier in the evening, bowlers from Delhi set the tone. Marizanne Kapp led the attack with figures of 3 for 30 while Chinelle Henry took two wickets as the UP Warriorz were restricted to 122 for eight. UPW never quite recovered from losing an early wicket and struggled to build partnerships throughout the innings.
Deepti Sharma top-scored with 24 off 19 balls, while Simran Shaikh briefly threatened to add to the scoring with a brisk 22. However, regular knocks from Kapp and Henry ensured UPW remained on the back foot, falling short of a competitive total.
It wasn’t their most convincing performance for Delhi Capitals, but it was enough. They will now face in-form Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator on Tuesday at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium where another WPL final is at stake.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
February 2, 2026
