UP Warriorz bounced back convincingly with their first victory of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025, defeating the Delhi Capitals by 33 runs on February 22 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. This remarkable clash saw Chinelle Henry making headlines with her explosive innings, achieving the joint-fastest fifty ever recorded in WPL history, and bowlers Grace Harris and Kranti Goud delivering exceptional performances with the ball.
The UP Warriorz, after winning the toss, elected to bat first. They posted a challenging total of 177 runs for the loss of nine wickets. The standout performer was Henry, whose breathtaking knock of 62 runs off just 23 balls included eight towering sixes and two fours. This innings not only lifted her team after early losses but also etched her name alongside Sophia Dunkley for the fastest fifty, having reached the milestone in just 18 balls. The performance has undoubtedly earned Henry the Player of the Match award.
Despite early setbacks, which left UP reeling at 91 for six after 14 overs, Henry's remarkable innings propelled the score to more respectable heights. She was well supported by Tahlia McGrath, who contributed 24 runs, and captain Deepti Sharma, who added 13 runs to keep the momentum going. The late contributions from Sophie Ecclestone also proved invaluable as the Warriorz managed to reach 177/9, showcasing their ability to bounce back under pressure.
On the bowling front, the Delhi Capitals tried hard to curtail the runs, with Marizanne Kapp taking 2/18 and Jess Jonassen claiming 4/31. Yet they couldn't manage to prevent Henry’s onslaught, which quite literally turned the match around for UP and set them on the path to victory.
Chasing 178 runs, Delhi Capitals began their innings confidently but soon faltered under the pressure of disciplined bowling. Jemimah Rodrigues did her best to mount resistance, scoring 56 runs off 35 balls, but the rest of the batting lineup struggled dismally against the Warriorz’s bowling attack.
Goud emerged as the game-changer for UP, trapping the Capitals’ top order with her impressive four-wicket haul of 4/25. She dismantled key players, including Shafali Verma and Meg Lanning, and played a significant role during the Delhi innings. Meanwhile, Harris stole the limelight by securing the match with the first hat-trick of the season, dismissing Shikha Pandey, Arundhati Reddy, and Minnu Mani consecutively, which sealed the Delhi Capitals' fate at just 144 runs, all out within 19.3 overs.
Henry's explosive batting also secured her records: her 62 runs are the highest scored at No. 8 or below in Women's T20s and the most at No. 6 or below within the WPL. The incredible strike rate of 269.56 ranks her as the third-highest for half-centuries within this competition. It's moments like these which shine light on the talents within women’s cricket, especially as the tournament progresses.
This victory marked the UP Warriorz's significant comeback, moving them one slot up to fourth place on the points table with two points from three matches, showcasing their potential to contend for the title. Meanwhile, the defeat was the first for Delhi Capitals this season, as they now find themselves sitting at third with four points from four matches, having recorded two wins and two losses.
Looking forward, the UP Warriorz seek to establish consistency as they aim for the top positions, underscored by the performance of their seasoned players like Henry and their rising stars like Goud. Delhi Capitals, now facing the challenge of regrouping, will look to recover against the Gujarat Giants on Tuesday. With the season still young, both teams have plenty to play for, and the dynamics within the league are set to become even more intense.