The big-hitting Shafali Verma led the way with a blazing 37-ball 71 as a dominant Delhi Capitals secured direct qualification to the Women’s Premier League final with a seven-wicket hammering of Gujarat Giants here on Wednesday.
Table-toppers Capitals entered the game looking to bag the direct spot and once their bowlers restricted the Giants to 126/9 with a disciplined show at the Ferozeshah Kotla, the hosts inched closer to realising their goal.
In the final on Sunday, the Capitals will play the winner of the Eliminator between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore, which will be held on Friday.
Shafali hit a flurry of boundaries, including as many as five sixes and seven fours, to help her side complete the chase of 127 without much ado. The Capitals finished the game with as many as 41 balls remaining.
Shafali reached her fifty in just 28 balls. She got to the landmark with a four-over extra cover off Mannat Kashyap.
Earlier, if not for Bharti Fulmali’s 36-ball 42 and Kathryn Bryce’s unbeaten 28, the Giants would have finished with a much lower total. South African veteran all-rounder Marizanne Kapp led the way for the Capitals with figures of 2/17, while there were also two wickets apiece for Shikha Pandey and Minnu Mani.
Brief scores: GG Women 126/9 in 20 ovs (B. Fulmali 42; M. Kapp 2/17, M. Mani 2/9). DC Women 129/3 in 13.1 ovs (S. Verma 71). DC Women won by 7 wickets.
Written with PTI inputs
