🏏WPL 2024: 20th Match Delhi Capitals Women vs Gujarat Giants, Delhi🏏

🏏WPL 2024: 20th Match Delhi Capitals Women vs Gujarat Giants, Delhi🏏

Meg Lanning-led Delhi Capitals are fresh from sealing their second successive playoff spot following a 1-run victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore, while GG led by Beth Mooney head into the match on the back of an 8-run victory over UP Warriorz.

With an eye on a direct entry into the WPL final, DC will look to do the double when they face GG for the first time in their home venue, having previously met at the two venues in Mumbai in season 1 and Bengaluru earlier in season 2.

Royal Challengers Bangalore's victory against Mumbai Indians confirmed the three teams in the playoffs, rendering the final match of the league stage of the WPL 2024 inconsequential. But there is still something riding on the Delhi Capitals vs. Gujarat Giants game. 

Currently at the top of the table thanks to their consistent performances through this competition, the Capitals will be looking to continue their good run and end the league stage with the most wins. 

With MI's net run rate dipping after the loss, the Capitals are all set to make it directly to the final, but there is a chance for Mumbai to usurp them to the top spot. 

For that, they'll need some help from the Giants, who need to win the match by a margin of roughly 120 runs or with around 90 balls to spare.

Royal Challengers Bangalore's victory against Mumbai Indians confirmed the three teams in the playoffs, rendering the final match of the league stage of WPL 2024 inconsequential. But there is still something riding on the Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Giants game. 

The Giants, who have been opposites to the Capitals, will be looking to go out with a bang. But to avoid their second successive wooden spoon in the WPL, they need a really big win over the Capitals to go past UP Warriorz's NRR - score 160 and restrict the opposition to 103 or less, or chase down 161 inside 12.1 overs - which is easier said than done.

The Capitals have been on the money ever since losing the first game to MI, registering four victories on the trot by comfortable margins. But their last two matches - a loss to UPW and a win against RCB - were both by one-run margins. Heading into the business end, they will be eager to get back to their dominating ways and not let it get too close to comfort.

The Giants did get better as the tournament progressed, winning two of their last three matches, but the four successive losses to start this edition of the WPL took a heavy toll on their chances of progression. Beth Mooney and Laura Wolvaardt have been the key players in both their wins, but the team will be hoping for some contributions from Phoebe Litchfield and Ash Gardner, who both haven't fired in this tournament. 

On the bowling front, Shabnam Shakil's impressive performance against Warriorz, to go with their overall bowling show, which has punched above the weight, is one of the positives for the Giants in the WPL 2024.

What to expect: Contrasting pitches have been on offer in the last few matches at this venue. While two of them have been high-scoring encounters, there have been three low-scoring games too. Teams batting first have had better success in Delhi, having won six out of eight matches.

Team news:

Delhi Capitals: With the top spot confirmed for all practical purposes, the Capitals might look at a change or two - perhaps rest Marizanne Kapp and bring in Annabel Sutherland.

Probable XI: Meg Lanning (c), Shafali Verma, Alice Capsey, Jemimah Rodrigues, Annabel Sutherland, Jess Jonassen, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Shikha Pandey, Titas Sadhu

Gujarat Giants: Mooney's team is likely to stick to the winning combination.

Probable XI: Laura Wolvaardt, Beth Mooney (c & wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Dayalan Hemalatha, Ashleigh Gardner, Bharati Fulmali, Kathryn Bryce, Mannat Kashyap, Tanuja Kanwar, Meghna Singh, Shabnam Md Shakil

What they said:

"After the last few games, we stuck to the situation and gave the fans something to watch. It's a little stressful but nice for the fans" - Beth Mooney, on the last two matches getting close for the Giants. 

Gujarat Giants is entering this league match with a massive win against UP Warriorz in the last match, where they defended a low score with a strong bowling performance. On the other hand, Delhi Capitals won their last match against RCB in a thrilling match, securing a playoff berth with a one-run victory on the last ball.

The DC has already been through to the qualifiers, while GG is at the bottom of the points table and is in dire need of a miracle. Their qualifying will now depend on the results of the RCB and MI matches. 

Pitch report from Arun Jaitely Stadium

During last year's World Cup, the surface at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi was exceptionally flat, leading to high-scoring matches, with teams often surpassing the 400-run mark while batting first. Similar pitch conditions are anticipated for the upcoming match. 

However, in the last edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the pitch proved to be sluggish, resulting in challenges for the home team Delhi Capitals. Currently, considering the pitch's performance during the ODI World Cup, opting to chase may be a more favourable strategy. 

Weather report from New Delhi 

The weather at the Arun Jaitely Stadium in New Delhi will remain decent with no chance of rain. The minimum temperature will settle close to 16 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature will hover around 31 degrees Celsius, as per AccuWeather. The wind speed at the venue will be 5 km/h with 76 per cent humidity.  

3 milestones that could be broken in today’s DC vs GG match!!! 

#1 Meg Lanning is six runs away from becoming the highest run-scorer in WPL 2024

Delhi Capitals skipper Meg Lanning has been in breathtaking form this season. She has led the team from the front with consistent performances. The right-hander has aggregated 290 runs in seven games at an average of 41.42, including four half-centuries.

Lanning is currently second on the leaderboard for highest run-scorers and is five runs short of table-topper Deepti Sharma. If she manages to score six runs, Lanning will leapfrog Deepti to be the top scorer in WPL 2024.

#2 Jess Jonassen is two scalps away from becoming the highest wicket-taker this season

#3 Beth Mooney could leapfrog Meg Lanning on the list of most boundaries hit in WPL 2024

After a below-par start to the WPL 2024 season, Beth Mooney got into the groove in the last few games. She has scored three consecutive half-centuries and has been their leading scorer with 285 runs from seven matches.

Mooney has struck 38 fours in this edition and is the second on the leaderboard for most boundaries hit in WPL 2024. If she hits three more fours, Mooney will go past table-topper Lanning, provided the latter doesn't hit any more boundaries on Wednesday and gets out cheaply.

Following a nail-biting finish in their last game, Meg Lanning and the girls are all set to take on the Gujarat Giants in the last league stage match of the WPL 2024.

They registered a slim 1-run win against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the previous outing to qualify for the playoffs. 

The Capitals recorded a 25-run win against the Gujarat Giants the last time we met in the Bengaluru leg of the WPL 2024. The team relied on the performances of Meg Lanning with the bat and Jess Jonassen, along with Radha Yadav, took charge with the ball.

With the highly anticipated encounter almost upon us, let’s have a look at the important things you need to know for our next clash.

Players to watch out for:

Meg Lanning

DC’s Captain Cool has been going through a purple-patch since the start of WPL 2024 and has been an Orange Cap holder till our last encounter. Heading into the game with four fifties in the tournament, Lanning has amassed 290 runs already. She will look to lead from the front once again and come out all guns blazing against the Gujarat Giants. 

Radha Yadav

Radha Yadav has picked up the joint-most wickets (10) for DC in the WPL 2024 and is among the top performers for the team. She has not only been among the top wicket-takers but also delivered economical spells in the season. Easily one of the best Indian bowlers in the tournament, Radha will be eager to continue battling for the Purple Cap and steal the limelight once again.

Jess Jonassen

One of the standout players of the season, Jess Jonassen is the joint-leading wicket-taker for the Delhi Capitals in WPL 2024, next to Radha Yadav. The Aussie All-Rounder has been able to deliver in various phases of the game and has stood up to the occasion whenever the team needed it.

Her ability to restrict the flow of runs, as well as her athleticism and handy cameo appearances with the bat, make her a dangerous asset. Her performances against the Gujarat Giants will have a major impact on the result of this clash.