Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

With an eye on playoffs spot, in-form Giants run into table-toppers Capitals

Written by 
Published in Cricket
Thursday, 06 March 2025 04:19

Who's playing

Delhi Capitals (DC) vs Gujarat Giants (GG)
Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, 7.30pm IST

Big picture: Capitals in action after six days

It is Meg Lanning vs Ashleigh Gardner again. But all eyes will be on Gujarat Giants, who have redeemed themselves with two successive wins, and are suddenly in contention for the playoffs. Having started with three losses in their first four matches, Giants would be keen to finish the Lucknow leg on a high before flying to Mumbai for their final group game. Delhi Capitals, on the other hand, were the first team to qualify for playoffs, and will be playing their final league game on Friday, after winning five out of seven matches that has kept them at the top of the points table.

Giants took some time to find their feet, but they look like a settled unit now. They tried a few different combinations and handed different roles to playersm but towards the business end of the tournament, they seem to play with better clarity than before. Giants are not just dependent on Gardner and Deandra Dottin in the batting anymore, with the likes of Harleen Deol, Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield stepping up.

That apart, bowling still remains their biggest strength. In the three games that they won in this WPL, Giants' bowlers have taken 26 of the 30 possible wickets. Despite limited international experience, Kashvee Gautam, Tanuja Kanwar and Priya Mishra have put their hands up to take 21 wickets between them - they have featured in all six matches so far - while allrounders Gardner and Dottin have supported them ably.

Meanwhile, Capitals will be in action after six days, and will be playing their playoffs match only another six days later. Whether that will have an impact on their momentum is something to be seen. They have got many bases covered, and have almost always found a way to bounce back in a contest. Given the highly competitive nature of Lanning, her team will not take this match lightly, although they have advanced to the knockouts.

When these sides met earlier in this WPL, Capitals crushed Giants by chasing down 128 with 29 balls remaining. With a playoffs spot on the line, then, will revenge be on Giants' mind?

Form guide

Delhi Capitals: WWW (last three matches, most recent first)
Gujarat Giants: WWL

In the spotlight: Shafali Verma and Tanuja Kanwar

After three scores in the 40s, Shafali Verma converted her start and made it huge, scoring an unbeaten 80 in Capitals' previous, game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. It was an innings where she showed control and composure in a tricky chase. Having accumulated 167 runs in the last three matches and heading into a match with no pressure of qualification, Shafali will be determined to continue her good touch ahead of the playoffs.
Tanuja Kanwar started this WPL quietly, taking just a solitary wicket in her first three matches. But the left-arm spinner found her grip soon, and struck six times in the next three games. She has given Giants crucial breakthroughs, and against UP Warriorz, also picked up 3 for 17 in Lucknow. With Capitals loading themselves up with right-handers - Jonassen is the only left-hand batter in their top seven - Kanwar will be expected to have a vital role on Friday.

Team news: Capitals shouldn't change winning combination

Delhi Capitals (probable): 1 Meg Lanning (capt), 2 Shafali Verma, 3 Jess Jonassen, 4 Jemimah Rodrigues, 5 Annabel Sutherland, 6 Marizanne Kapp, 7 Sarah Bryce (wk), 8 Niki Prasad, 9 Shikha Pandey, 10 Minnu Manni, 11 Shree Charani

Even though opening batter D Hemalatha has found little success in this tournament, Giants have persisted with her at the top of the order. It's unlikely that they will promote Deol or Litchfield to open with Mooney.

Gujarat Giants (probable): 1 Beth Mooney (wk), 2 D Hemalatha, 3 Harleen Deol, 4 Ashleigh Gardner (capt), 5 Phoebe Litchfield, 6 Deandra Dottin, 7 Kashvee Gautam, 8 Bharti Fulmali, 9 Tanuja Kanwar, 10 Meghna Singh, 11 Priya Mishra

  • With the ball, Capitals have been the second-best team in the death overs (17-20) this time, having conceded 8.72 runs an over in that phase. Only Mumbai Indians (8.31) have been better than them.

  • Meanwhile, Giants have aced the powerplay with the ball this season. They have taken 13 wickets, and conceded at only 6.08 runs an over in the first six overs - both numbers being the best among all sides.

    • Srinidhi Ramanujam is a sub-editor with ESPNcricinfo

    (Source rss)

    Read 43 times
    I Dig Sports

    More in this category: « WA hit back as bowlers dominate again at the WACA India, Sri Lanka, South Africa to play women's ODI tri-series in April-May »
    back to top

    Soccer

    Saudi minister: Salah suits us but we had no talks

    Saudi minister: Salah suits us but we had no talks

    EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMohamed Salah may have signed a new contract at Liverpool, but he s...

    Saudi minister: WC worker's death investigated

    Saudi minister: WC worker's death investigated

    EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsSaudi Arabia's minister of sport, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Fai...

    Bundesliga history made with 8 goals in 1st half

    Bundesliga history made with 8 goals in 1st half

    EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsUnion Berlin and VfB Stuttgart made history on Saturday as the firs...

    2026 FIFA


    2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

    UEFA

    2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


    I DIG Radio

    Basketball

    Redick: Wolves' 'physicality' caught us off guard

    Redick: Wolves' 'physicality' caught us off guard

    EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- After pushing themselves in the play-in tournament t...

    Knicks go on 21-0 run as miscues tank Pistons

    Knicks go on 21-0 run as miscues tank Pistons

    EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- The young, upstart Detroit Pistons, who had more than t...

    Baseball

    Yanks' Williams blows 4-run lead; ERA up to 9.00

    Yanks' Williams blows 4-run lead; ERA up to 9.00

    EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsTAMPA, Fla. -- Three-and-a-half weeks into his New York Yankees car...

    Berrios confronts Raleigh, suspects pitch tipping

    Berrios confronts Raleigh, suspects pitch tipping

    EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsTORONTO -- Right-hander Jose Berrios suspected Seattle Mariners cat...

    Sports Leagues

    • FIFA

      Fédération Internationale de Football Association

    • NBA

      National Basketball Association

    • ATP

      Association of Tennis Professionals

    • MLB

      Major League Baseball

    • ITTF

      International Table Tennis Federation

    • NFL

      Nactional Football Leagues

    • FISB

      Federation Internationale de Speedball

    About Us

    I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

     

    Phone: (800) 737. 6040
    Fax: (800) 825 5558
    Website: www.idig.com
    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    Affiliated