UP Warriorz scored 138/8 in 20 overs, where as Delhi Capitals scored 137 in 19.5 overs.
So, finally UP Warriorz beat Delhi Capitals by 1 run
Guided by Deepti Sharma’s outstanding all-round display (59 runs & 4 wickets for 19 runs), UP Warriorz clinched a nail-biting one-run victory against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, enhancing their position in the WPL 2024 campaign.
What was the highlight of Deepti Sharma’s performance?
Even before her remarkable hat-trick, Deepti Sharma made a significant impact with the bat.
Elevated to No. 3 after Kiran Navgire’s early dismissal, Deepti partnered with Alyssa Healy, guiding their team steadily through the powerplay.
Together, they constructed a crucial 46-run partnership in 42 deliveries before Healy’s departure, triggered by a mistimed shot off Alice Capsey.
On a sluggish and challenging pitch, scoring runs proved to be a daunting task, favoring Deepti’s methodical approach while causing difficulties for the other batters.
Tahlia McGrath fell victim to an incoming delivery from Arundhati Reddy, which dismantled her stumps, while Grace Harris’s attempt to capitalize on a slow and wide delivery from Radha Yadav only resulted in an edge to the point fielder.
Amidst the flurry of dismissals, Deepti Sharma exhibited glimpses of aggression, gradually shifting gears after a cautious start.
She confidently dispatched a couple of boundaries off Annabel Sutherland and executed a deft scoop shot against Jess Jonassen, finding the boundary ropes with finesse.
The performance of the other batters was lackluster, failing to provide substantial support as wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.
Shweta Sehrawat fell victim to a delivery from Titas Sadhu, which dismantled her stumps, while Poonam Khenmar’s attempt resulted in a leading edge back to the bowler, Radha Yadav.
Sophie Ecclestone’s aggressive intent against Jonassen led to her being stumped.
Despite Deepti Sharma’s efforts to accelerate the scoring, she struggled to find support as boundaries became scarce towards the death overs.
However, a powerful pull shot off Shikha Pandey sailed for a six before Deepti eventually fell, caught at long on.
Despite the challenges, Deepti’s innings played a pivotal role, albeit below par, in setting UP Warriorz a total of 138/8 to defend.
Delhi Capitals initially didn’t encounter significant struggles in their chase, despite the early dismissal of Shafali Verma and a slow start in the powerplay, with only 23 runs on the board by the end of the fifth over.
However, Meg Lanning’s aggressive approach against Saima Thakor, who had been economical in her initial overs, changed the momentum with three boundaries.
Despite UP Warriorz spinners bowling tight lines and lengths on a challenging pitch, Lanning continued to find boundaries, maintaining momentum for Delhi Capitals.
The partnership between Lanning and Alice Capsey further solidified Delhi’s position, with the duo adding 49 runs for the second wicket.
In the process, UP Warriorz exhausted both their review opportunities in attempts to separate the partnership.
As UP Warriorz aimed to regain control, Alice Capsey took the attack to Sophie Ecclestone, launching a powerful six over deep mid-wicket.
However, her attempt to replicate the shot ended with a catch in the deep.
Despite the setback, Meg Lanning continued to dominate, smashing three consecutive boundaries off Gouhar Sultana in the 13th over.
It appeared another partnership was steering Delhi Capitals towards victory.
However, Deepti Sharma intervened, trapping Lanning leg before wicket (lbw).
Although Jemimah Rodrigues urged her captain to review, the decision stood, as the ball was clearly hitting the middle stump.
Deepti Sharma takes charge with the ball as the match heads towards a tense conclusion.
Eccelstone, Gayakwad, Thakor, and Tahlia McGrath bowled economical overs in the death, reducing the required runs to 25 in the last 14 balls.
However, a six over mid-wicket and a boundary straight down the ground narrowed the requirement to 15 runs in the last two overs.
It was then that Deepti returned for her fourth over, building on the dismissal of Lanning in her previous over by removing both Annabel Sutherland and Arundhati Reddy.
Sutherland was cleaned up by a delivery that kept low, while Reddy was caught in the deep, granting Deepti an impressive hat-trick.
Shikha Pandey managed a boundary off the first ball, but was deceived on the next, mistiming a shot back to the bowler, reducing Delhi Capitals to 128 for 7.
With nine runs needed off the last over, Healy entrusted Grace Harris with the ball.
However, UP Warriorz’s dropped catches resurfaced as Radha Yadav was given a lifeline off the first ball, which unfortunately crossed the boundary ropes.
With just four runs required off five balls, Radha managed to squeeze a couple of runs off a high full-toss, but a review for a potential no-ball didn’t favor Delhi Capitals.
In the following delivery, Radha’s attempted heave resulted in an edge back onto the stumps.
The next ball saw Jonassen run out while attempting a quick single.
With two runs needed off the final two balls, Titas Sadhu chipped the ball to the mid-on fielder, leading to Delhi Capitals falling one run short of UP Warriorz’s total, sealing the thrilling victory for the latter.
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