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UP Warriorz snatch dramatic victory over Capitals

cricket08 March 2024 18:34| © MWP
By:David Knowles
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UP Warriorz © @wplt20 (X)

In a dramatic final two overs which saw six wickets fall for 25 runs, the UP Warriorz pulled off a superb one-run win against the high-flying Delhi Capitals in the WPL in Delhi on Friday.

Defending 138 after opting to bat first, the Warriorz turned the match on its head, protecting the lowest ever total in the WPL to date, bowling the Capitals out for 137 after they were looking comfortable at 112/4 in the 18th over.

Based on current form, it looked as though the Capitals would continue with their business as usual approach, easily chasing down what was a modest score.

Lead by captain Meg Lanning at the top of the order with 60 from 46 balls (12x4), justifying her position in wearing the orange cap as the tournament’s leading run scorer, it was a matter of when the Capitals would cross the line.

However, Warriorz spinner Deepti Sharma had other ideas as she started the comeback by trapping Lanning LBW with the last ball of the 14 over, her third over.

With the first two balls of the 19th over, Sharma’s final over, she sent back Annabel Sutherland (6) and next ball, had Arundhati Reddy caught in the deep to complete her hat-trick.

With the fourth ball of the over, she caught and bowled Shikha Pandey (4).

With 10 needed off the final over, Warriorz captain Alyssa Healy tossed the ball to spinner Grace Harris to bowl her first over of the match.

The first ball was smashed to mid-wicket by Radha Yadav, the ball parried over the boundary by Poonam Khemnar for six runs and it seemed the Capitals had sealed the deal with four needed from five balls.

Harris then bowled Yadav (9), with the third ball of the over, had Jess Jonassen run out the next ball and finished matters by having Titas Sadhu caught by substitute fielder Dane Wyatt at mid-on.

SHARMA SHINES

Earlier, the Warriorz who had never beaten the Capitals seemed to have lost their way after a careful start with the bat.

In the six over powerplay, they reached 44/1, losing Kiran Navgire (5). Healy (29) and eventual Player of the Match Sharma with 59 from 48 balls (6x4 1x6) put on the only worthwhile partnership of the innings with 46 for the second wicket, before the batting fell away, Harris’s 14 the only other double figure score.

The 100 came in 14.2 overs and from 101/5 after 15 overs, a mere 37 runs were added in the final five overs with the loss of three wickets.

Sophie Ecclestone (8) clubbed the first six of the innings after 16.2 overs but it was felt that 138/8 was never going to be enough.

Yadav and Sadhu bagged two wickets each, while Pandey, Reddy, Jonassen and Alice Capsey took one apiece.

The Capitals’ reply was virtually on par with what the Warriorz had achieved, posting 35/1 in the powerplay and looking comfortable on 63/1 at the halfway stage.

The 100 was reached after 15 overs with three wickets down and it looked a simple jog to the finish line.

Sharma finished with 4-19 in her four overs and Harris 2-8 in 0.5 overs.

Medium pacer Saima Thakur make the early inroads with 2-30 in her four overs, with the crafty spin of Ecclestone getting 1-15 in four overs.

DELHI CAPITALS: Meg Lanning (c), Shafali Verma, Alice Capsey, Jemimah Rodrigues, Annabel Sutherland, Jess Jonassen, Arundhati Reddy, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Radha Yadav, Shikha Pandey, Titas Sadhu

UP WARRIORZ: Alyssa Healy (c & wk), Kiran Navgire, Tahlia McGrath, Grace Harris, Deepti Sharma, Shweta Sehrawat, Poonam Khemnar, Sophie Ecclestone, Gouher Sultana, Saima Thakor, Rajeshwari Gayakwad

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