An explosive opening stand from Lizelle Lee and Shafali Verma combined with an excellent bowling effort from Chinelle Henry propelled Delhi Capitals (DC) past Gujarat  Giants (GG) in the Eliminator, securing their fourth straight WPL final. DC will now face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final in Vadodara on February 5.

In the 169 chase, Lee and Shafali laid the platform, clearing off more than half the target with an 89-run opening stand. Jemimah Rodrigues and Laura Wolvaardt then combined for a 68-run partnership, as DC completed the chase with 26 balls remaining.

Put in to bat, GG had historically thrived in this scenario, winning all their five games this season batting first. But their innings never got off the ground., starting with Sophie Devine, their most impactful player this season, departing in the second over. After being squared up by a Henry delivery that curved away late, Devine went for a big shot against a back-of-a-length ball outside off, only to edge it to Lee, who took a sensational one-handed catch to her right.

Nandani Sharma then inflicted more damage, removing Anushka Sharma and Ashleigh Gardner off back-to-back deliveries in the sixth over. With that, Nandani went past Saika Ishaque for most wickets by an Indian in a WPL edition. She now has 16 wickets, just one shy of Devine’s 17, the most this season. Minnu Mani then struck to leave GG tottering at 59 for 4.

GG found their footing despite the early damage with Beth Mooney, who had been a spectator as wickets tumbled at the other end,  taking control. After GG went 33 balls without a single boundary, she broke free by hitting N Shree Charani for a four.

Georgia Wareham offered timely support, rotating the strike and picking off the occasional boundary, before providing a momentum boost by striking the first six of the match, a crisp flick over mid-off, again off Charani. The pair carried GG’s total past 100 and brought up a 50-run partnership. But Henry returned to bowl the 17th over and Wareham sliced her straight to Wolvaardt at deep cover, and Bharti Fulmali was then bowled for a duck.

Mooney, though, batted on, and alongside Kashvee Gautam, struck six boundaries in the final three overs to lift GG to 168. Her 62 not out off 51 balls, spanning from first ball to last, once again underlined her value under pressure.

DC’s opening pair of Lee and Shafali had fired in isolation this season, but in the Eliminator, they clicked in tandem. Giants thought they had Lee caught behind in the second over and burned a review, only for UltraEdge to show a flat line as the ball passed the bat. Within the first three overs, the duo had clattered four boundaries.

Shafali then capitalised on a chaotic over from Devine, which swung the momentum DC’s way. After swinging and missing at a full delivery that raced away for four byes, Devine then sprayed one down the leg side to concede five wides. Shafali made them pay soon after, first easing a slot ball through the covers, and then, driving another over mid-off. Then followed a 21-run over, with Shafali and Lee hitting a combined five boundaries off Renuka Singh. They took DC to 64 in five overs – a stark contrast to Giants’ 64 for 4 at the 10-over mark.

Lee kept the tempo high, taking Rajeshwari Gayakwad for a four and a six, as DC surged to 75 in the powerplay. The openers continued to find the fence, until Wareham struck in the eighth over, removing both in quick succession to finally halt Giants’ momentum.

Wolvaardt and Rodrigues then made sure there were no more hiccups. Wolvaardt got going immediately, with a fluent drive through the covers, as the duo played one classy shot after the other, getting DC’s equation down to less than run-a-ball.

When Gardner served one right into the slot outside off, Rodrigues unfurled her arms and sent it over mid-off for a massive six. Wolvaardt also joined in on the fun, producing a moment of pure elegance against Gayakwad, skipping down the track to a flighted delivery and swinging cleanly to send it over long-on for a six.

By the time Rodrigues got out, after scoring 41 off 23, DC needed just nine runs off 31 balls. Marizanne Kapp finished it off in the 16th over, launching Wareham back over her head for four to send Capitals into yet another final.

Brief scores:
Delhi Capitals Women 169 for 3 in 15.4  overs (Lizelle Lee 43, Jemimah  Rodrigues 41, Laura Wolvaardt 32*, Shafali Verma 31; Rajeshwari Gayakwad 1-33 Georgia Wareham 2-28) beat Gujarat Giants Women 168 for 7 in 20 overs (Beth Mooney 62, Anushka Sharma 16, Georgia Wareham 35, Kashvee Gautam 18; Chinelle Henry 3-35, Nandani Sharma 2-44, Minu Mani 1-23) by seven wickets

[Cricinfo]