Star all-rounder Deepti Sharma emerged as the hero for UP Warriorz, steering them to a nail-biting one-run victory over Delhi Capitals, who faltered at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in their Women's Premier League (WPL) 2024 match on March 8. With a stellar all-around performance, Deepti notched up 59 runs and took four wickets for just 19 runs, including a pivotal hat-trick, underscoring the trend of the team batting first securing wins in Delhi this season.
This win marked the Warriorz's third of the tournament, keeping their playoff aspirations alive despite a formidable innings from Meg Lanning that ultimately couldn't prevent the Capitals from collapsing, losing their last seven wickets for a mere 25 runs in the concluding three overs.
Deepti Sharma's one-woman show
After choosing to bat first at the Arun Jaitley Stadium and following a loss to Mumbai Indians the previous day when fielding first, Healy's team aimed for a significant total to align with Delhi's winning pattern. Their beginning was less than ideal, losing Kiran Navgire early to Titas Sadhu. Promoting Deepti to No.3 after her impressive performance the day before, she and Healy aimed to stabilize the innings.
Despite a less characteristic slow innings from Healy, yielding 29 off 30 balls, and Deepti taking the lead in their partnership, Healy's dismissal in the 9th over slowed the Warriorz's scoring momentum. Tahlia McGrath's inclusion didn't pan out as hoped, leaving the Warriorz struggling at 62 for three after 9.5 overs. Deepti and Grace Harris managed to pull the Warriorz back from the brink until Harris was dismissed at 95, leading to a dramatic collapse to 116 for seven.
Undeterred, Deepti hit her second fifty of the tournament, eventually becoming the final wicket as the Warriorz set a target of 138 runs for eight.
Delhi's bowlers, particularly Sadhu and Radha Yadav, performed commendably, each taking two wickets.
Meg Lanning's effort falls short
Delhi Capitals' batters commit harakiri
The Capitals began their chase well but soon lost Shafali Verma to Saima Thakor, who continued her excellent form. Lanning then took charge, hitting boundaries frequently in an attempt to steer the chase. The DC captain appeared to be the only player, aside from Deepti, who adapted well to the pitch conditions. Alice Capsey partnered with Lanning, though she struggled to score freely.
Capsey's innings ended when Eccelstone dismissed her, but Lanning maintained her form, securing her fourth fifty of the 2024 season and setting a record as the first player to score three consecutive fifties in the WPL.
Deepti runs through Capitals' batting line-up
Despite her efforts, Lanning was dismissed by Deepti for 60, leaving DC with 46 runs needed from 36 balls. At this crucial juncture, Jemimah and Sutherland were at the crease. Jemimah hit a crucial six, easing the pressure on DC. However, with DC requiring 27 from 18 balls, Saima claimed Jemimah's wicket, tilting the game towards equilibrium.
Jess Jonassen's six and four off the final balls of Saima's over reduced the deficit to 15 runs needed from the last 12 balls.
Deepti, bowling the penultimate over, immediately made an impact by dismissing Sutherland, adding a twist to the game. She then took out Arundhati Reddy, swinging the momentum towards Warriorz and completing her hat-trick, having previously dismissed Lanning. Deepti became the second player after Issy Wong to achieve a hat-trick in the WPL 2024. Shikha Pandey's boundary brought the equation down to 11 off 9. Deepti's over ended with her claiming another wicket through an outstanding fielding effort, signaling a possible collapse for the Capitals.
In the final over, bowled by Grace Harris, Radha hit a six, momentarily putting DC back in the lead. However, a series of mishaps, including Radha chopping the ball onto her stumps and Jonassen's run-out, left DC needing two from two balls. Harris secured the final wicket, completing DC's collapse and reviving Warriorz's playoff aspirations.
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