The UP Warriorz finally got off the mark in the Women's Premier League 2025, securing a convincing 33-run victory over the Delhi Capitals at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, February 22nd. It was a match defined by a stunning turnaround, fueled by a blistering knock from Chinelle Henry and a disciplined bowling performance.
UP Warriorz Batting: After being put in to bat, UP's innings was a rollercoaster. They started slowly, losing Vrinda Dinesh early. Captain Deepti Sharma and Arundhati Reddy tried to stabilize things, but a mid-innings collapse, orchestrated by Delhi's Jess Jonassen (4/31) and Marizanne Kapp (2/18), left them reeling at 109/7. Just when it seemed like Delhi had complete control, Chinelle Henry unleashed a stunning assault, smashing 62 off just 23 balls, including eight sixes. This equaled the record for the fastest fifty in the WPL. Her innings was the clear difference-maker, propelling UP to a competitive 177/9.
UP Warriorz Bowling: The bowlers, led by Kranti Goud (4/25) and Grace Harris (4/15), were outstanding. They maintained consistent pressure, never allowing the Delhi batters to settle. Goud's early breakthroughs and Harris's late wickets were crucial in dismantling the chase. The fielding was also sharp, with a crucial early drop of Shafali Verma not proving too costly.
Delhi Capitals Batting: Delhi's chase never really got going. Shafali Verma struggled for fluency, and Meg Lanning's dismissal further dented their hopes. Jemimah Rodrigues played a lone hand, scoring a valiant 56 off 35 balls, but she received virtually no support from the other end. The required run rate kept climbing, and the pressure eventually led to a complete batting collapse.
Delhi Capitals Bowling: While Jonassen and Kapp were excellent, the rest of the bowling attack struggled to contain Henry's onslaught. The inability to break the lower-order partnership proved to be their undoing. The fielding was a mixed bag, with a dropped catch of Verma early.
Delhi Capitals Fielding: The fielding performance can be categorised as a mix, highlighted by a costly dropped catch of Shafali early on.
Player of the Match: Chinelle Henry, without a doubt. Her explosive innings completely transformed the game and gave UP the momentum they needed.
