Chinelle Henry’s explosive finish, uncapped seamer Kranti Goud’s four-wicket haul, and Grace Harris’ last-over hat-trick highlighted a dominant performance by UP Warriorz, securing their first win of WPL 2025 with a resounding 33-run victory over Delhi Capitals in their third match. In the season’s first reverse fixture, Warriorz defended 177, bowling out Capitals for 144 — becoming the first team to successfully defend a total this edition.
The Chinnaswamy Stadium roared to life late in the first innings as Henry, arriving with the team struggling at 89 for 6, unleashed a whirlwind 23-ball innings. Her explosive knock, featuring eight sixes and two fours, powered her to a joint-fastest fifty in WPL history (off 18 balls) at a staggering strike rate of 269.56, transforming a modest total into a winning one.
During the chase, Jemimah Rodrigues anchored the Capitals with a solid 56, but a middle-order collapse saw them tumble from 97 for 3 to 111 for 7. Despite late resistance from Niki Prasad and Shikha Pandey, Goud and Harris combined for eight wickets, sealing a convincing win for Warriorz.
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Goud Shines Bright with Match-Winning Spell
A debut season in the WPL can be a test of nerves, especially under the spotlight and in front of roaring crowds. For 21-year-old Kranti Goud, the first two matches were far from ideal—just four overs bowled, 47 runs conceded, and two losses for the UP Warriorz. Yet, skipper Deepti Sharma showed faith, choosing Goud over experienced India seamer Saima Thakor for the clash against Delhi Capitals in Bengaluru. The decision paid off handsomely.
Goud’s spell began with a challenge as Meg Lanning drove her first ball for four. But she bounced back instantly, jagging one back to shatter the Capitals captain’s stumps two deliveries later. Tight lines followed—just two runs conceded in her next over—and she soon sent Shafali Verma packing with a well-directed short ball. By the end of her first three overs, Goud had figures of 2 for 16, leaving Capitals needing 126 from 66 balls.
Returning for her final over with the Capitals requiring 76 off 36, Goud delivered the knockout blows. She dismissed Jess Jonassen with a sharp return catch and had the well-set Jemimah Rodrigues caught at extra cover in the same over, leaving Delhi reeling at 111 for 6. Goud’s composed performance under pressure turned the tide, validating the team’s trust and marking her arrival in the tournament.
Henry’s Heroics Mask Warriorz’s Middle-Order Woes
Deepti Sharma’s batting position has raised questions for UP Warriorz in WPL 2025. After a promising 39 off 27 balls at No. 4 in the opener, her promotion to No. 3 yielded modest returns—7 runs in Lucknow and 13 off 19 in Bengaluru. With the middle order struggling, whether this batting slot suits her remains debatable. Last season, Deepti thrived in the middle order, scoring 295 runs at a strike rate of 136.67, often finishing games unbeaten and consistently contributing.
This season, however, the lack of runs from Tahlia McGrath and Grace Harris in the middle overs has left the lower order with plenty to salvage. Chinelle Henry has shouldered much of that responsibility. After smashing an unbeaten 33 off 15 in the previous game to take Warriorz to 166, she delivered another rescue act on Saturday. Walking in at 89 for 6 in the 14th over, Henry immediately counterattacked, launching two sixes off Anusha Reddy. She then took on Shikha Pandey in the 17th over, cracking a four and two sixes before falling to Jess Jonassen on the innings’ final ball.
Despite losing 15 wickets in the middle phase across three matches—five of them on Saturday—Henry’s explosive 23-ball innings dragged Warriorz from a precarious position to a competitive total, underlining her vital role in papering over the team’s mid-innings frailties.
Rodrigues Fights Lone Battle as Capitals Falter in Testing Conditions
The second innings began with the ball swinging and seaming, unsettling Shafali Verma and Meg Lanning early on. While UP Warriorz were initially sloppy—Saima Thakor dropping two catches and wicketkeeper Uma Chetry missing opportunities—Kranti Goud’s disciplined spell brought them back into the contest.
For Delhi Capitals, only Jemimah Rodrigues managed to navigate the challenging conditions in Bengaluru. Though she took 19 balls to reach 23, once settled, she played with fluency, peppering the cover region with elegant boundaries. Her 30-ball fifty, featuring eight fours and a six, briefly reignited Capitals’ hopes. However, with no support from the rest of the top seven, the innings unraveled as the middle order crumbled, allowing Warriorz to seize control.
Harris Shines with Late Hat-Trick Despite Batting Struggles
Grace Harris, known primarily as a batting allrounder, has yet to make a significant impact with the bat in WPL 2025, managing just 18 runs across three games. However, her bowling has proven valuable, with two wickets in her first two matches and a game-changing performance on Saturday.
Harris struck first in the 14th over, dismissing Annabel Sutherland—Capitals’ Player of the Match from their previous encounter. With 34 runs required in the final over, she sealed the deal in spectacular fashion, removing Niki Prasad, Anusha Reddy, and Minnu Mani in consecutive deliveries. Her remarkable feat made her only the third player in WPL history to claim a hat-trick, joining the ranks of Deepti Sharma and Issy Wong.
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FAQs
Who was the standout performer for UP Warriorz against Delhi Capitals in WPL 2025?
Chinelle Henry’s explosive 23-ball 56 and Grace Harris’s last-over hat-trick were pivotal in UP Warriorz’s 33-run win over Delhi Capitals.
How did Kranti Goud contribute to UP Warriorz’s victory?
In her debut WPL season, Kranti Goud took a four-wicket haul, including key dismissals of Meg Lanning and Jemimah Rodrigues, helping Warriorz defend 177.
What was special about Chinelle Henry’s innings?
Coming in at 89 for 6, Henry smashed eight sixes and two fours, equaling the joint-fastest fifty (18 balls) in WPL history and rescuing Warriorz from a collapse.
How did Grace Harris achieve her hat-trick against Delhi Capitals?
Harris dismissed Niki Prasad, Anusha Reddy, and Minnu Mani in consecutive deliveries, becoming the third player in WPL history to claim a hat-trick.
What led to Delhi Capitals’ batting collapse despite Jemimah Rodrigues’s fifty?
While Rodrigues scored a quick 56 off 30 balls, the rest of the Capitals’ top seven struggled to adapt to Bengaluru’s swinging conditions, resulting in a middle-order collapse.
