In a thrilling display of skill and determination, Alice Capsey showcased her prowess as an all-rounder in Tuesday’s Women’s Premier League 2023 match, paving the way for Delhi Capitals’ exhilarating victory against UP Warriorz. The match saw Capsey dominate both with the ball and the bat, proving to be instrumental in securing a spot in the final for her team. As a bowler, she yielded impressive results, taking 3-26 in just four overs and restricting UP Warriorz to a total of 138/6. A fantastic batting streak by Tahlia McGrath, scoring a staggering 58 runs in just 32 balls, helped bring UP to their final numbers. However, Capsey’s performance was far from over, as she stepped up to the plate and contributed a crucial 34 runs in 31 balls. This powerful partnership, alongside skipper Meg Lanning‘s 39 runs and Shafali Verma‘s 21 runs, ultimately sealed Delhi Capitals‘ triumphant five-wicket victory with 13 balls to spare, sending them to the top of the table and into the final, leaving fans and opponents alike in awe of Capsey’s exceptional talent.
Delhi Capitals had a close call in their match against Punjab Kings last week, almost giving away the top position on the IPL points table to Mumbai Indians. After easily getting off to a start, Delhi suddenly suffered a setback as they lost three of their batsmen in quick succession. Sensing danger, Capsey and Marizanne Kapp stepped up with a sixty run partnership to get back on track and eventually see them reach 142/5 in 17.5 overs. This victory secured 12 points for Delhi, meaning they tied with Mumbai; however, due to superior net run rate of +1.856 compared to +1.771 of Mumbai’s, Delhi finished top of the table and are ready to take on the winner of the Eliminator being played between Mumbai Indians and UP Warriorz on March 24th.
In a thrilling display of agility and skill, Tahlia McGrath delivered an outstanding performance, scoring a rapid-fire 58 off 32 balls for the UP Warriorz. McGrath’s exceptional contribution, which included a remarkable eight boundaries and a pair of sixes, was instrumental in lifting UP Warriorz to a competitive 138/6, after the Delhi Capitals chose to field first. Despite the middle-order batsmen’s struggle to make an impactful contribution, McGrath’s robust innings provided a solid backbone to UP’s overall score. The opening duo of Alyssa Healy and Shweta Sehrawat built a commendable partnership, contributing 30 runs to the total. However, Sehrawat’s dismissal, caught by Jess Jonassen off a deceptive delivery by Radha Yadav, brought an end to the promising collaboration. As the first round draws to a close, UP Warriorz, Delhi Capitals, and Mumbai Indians have all successfully secured their spots in the playoffs. The final positions in the standings will be determined in Tuesday’s two climactic matches, capping off what has been an exhilarating series.
Healy’s exceptional performance in this riveting match began with a powerful opening, as she fearlessly hit Marizanne Kapp for a four off the very first delivery. Her unwavering confidence radiated throughout the game, with each boundary serving as a testament to her incredible skill. One such display of talent was when Healy effortlessly sent a knee-high full toss from Radhua Yadav flying to the boundary, not to mention her striking a brilliant six in the eighth over. Showcasing her strength, Healy managed to muscle away a full delivery that landed wide, leaving spectators in awe.
However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Healy, which became evident in the eventful 10th over. There was a momentary reprieve when she was dropped by bowler Capsey off a low full toss on the third ball, but she didn’t let that stop her. With unwavering determination, Healy punched the fifth delivery for a four, seamlessly finding that perfect gap between cover and wide long-on. Despite her impressive efforts throughout the game, Healy was ultimately out on the final delivery. Charging Capsey, Healy swung for the ball, only to miss it as it zipped past her bat and into the skilled hands of keeper Taniya Bhatia, who expertly whipped off the bails. Healy was left out by a significant distance in this climactic moment, but there’s no denying that her outstanding performance throughout the match will be remembered for a long time to come.
Simran Shaikh‘s dismissal at just 11 runs seemed like a major setback for the UP Warriorz as they faced a formidable bowling attack. However, it was ultimately the impressive performance by McGrath that guided the team to a respectable total. Showcasing her prowess on the field, she delightfully hit eight boundaries and two sixes, despite the regular loss of wickets due to the opponent’s disciplined bowling. McGrath’s tenacity was apparent as she ruthlessly dealt with key bowlers like Radha Yadav, Jonassen, and Capsey by hitting consecutive boundaries and sixes in the 19th and final overs of the innings. Her commendable running between the wickets also contributed to the team’s overall score, helping the UP Warriorz claim a valuable 19 runs in the final over delivered by Capsey.
