Delhi Capitals secured their place in a fourth consecutive TATA WPL final with a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. Led by a clinical all-round performance, the Capitals chased down a target of 169 with 26 balls to spare, setting up a high-stakes summit clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Opting to bowl first on a fresh Vadodara surface, Delhi Capitals made early inroads through Chinelle Henry and Marizanne Kapp. The DC seamers exploited the conditions perfectly, removing the dangerous Sophie Devine (6) in the second over courtesy of a sensational one-handed catch by wicketkeeper Lizelle Lee.

GG’s struggles deepened in the fifth over when Nandni Sharma struck twice in consecutive deliveries. She first accounted for Anushka Sharma (16) before dismissing Giants’ captain Ashleigh Gardner for a golden duck. At 59/4, the Giants were in serious trouble. However, Beth Mooney stood firm, anchoring the innings with a composed unbeaten 62 off 51 balls. She found support in Georgia Wareham (35 off 25), whose counter-attacking knock injected much-needed momentum. A late flurry from Kashvee Gautam (18) helped the Giants post a fighting 168/7, despite conceding 19 runs in wides. Chenille Henry was the pick of the bowlers with 3/30.

The chase was effectively decided in the first six overs. After a sedate start, Shafali Verma and Lizelle Lee unleashed a relentless assault on the Gujarat bowlers. The floodgates opened in the third over when Rajeshwari Gayakwad was introduced, conceding 14 runs immediately.

Lee (43 off 24) and Shafali (31 off 21) dismantled the attack, putting on an 89-run opening stand in just 43 deliveries. While Georgia Wareham briefly hauled Gujarat back into the contest by dismissing both openers in the eighth over, the required rate had already plummeted below a run-a-ball.

Skipper Jemimah Rodrigues and Laura Wolvaardt ensured there would be no repeat of their league-stage heartbreaks against the Giants. The pair shared a 68-run partnership, mixing aggression with low-risk strike rotation. Rodrigues was particularly fluent, smashing 41 off 23 balls before falling to Gayakwad in the 15th over with victory in sight. Marizanne Kapp joined Wolvaardt (32* off 24) and finished the job in style, lofting Wareham over long-off for a boundary to seal the win in 15.4 overs.

Delhi Capital skipper Jemimah Rodrigues was adjudged the Player of the Match for guiding her team towards a shot at their maiden TATA WPL trophy.