On Saturday, February 22, 2025, the UP Warriorz pulled off a stunning upset against the favorites, Delhi Capitals, winning by 33 runs in Women's Premier League 2025 Match 8M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Chasing 178, Delhi Capitals collapsed to 144 all out in 19.3 overs — a performance that turned a three-day-old victory into a bitter defeat. The hero? Chinelle Henry, the Jamaican all-rounder whose disciplined bowling and clutch batting earned her Player of the Match honors — though the exact figures remain unpublicized, her impact was undeniable.
A Tale of Two Matches
Just three days earlier, on February 19, Delhi Capitals had crushed UP Warriorz by seven wickets, chasing down 167 with one ball to spare. Captain Meg Lanning smashed 69 off 49 balls, while all-rounder Annabel Sutherland remained unbeaten on 41* off 35, adding 2 for 26 with the ball. That win gave Delhi a 4-1 lead in the head-to-head series — and made them heavy favorites heading into the rematch. But cricket, especially women’s T20, doesn’t care about recent momentum. The twist? UP Warriorz came back with a plan — and executed it perfectly.
The Batting Blueprint
UP Warriorz didn’t blaze away. They built. Their 177 for 9 in 20 overs was a masterclass in controlled aggression. No one scored a century, but six batters reached double figures. The middle order, often a weakness, held firm under pressure. When the powerplay ended at 54 for 2, they didn’t panic. They accelerated — 123 runs came in the final 10 overs. It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective. The run rate of 8.85? That’s not explosive. It’s calculated. And it proved enough.
The Bowling Breakthrough
Delhi Capitals, despite having the firepower of Shafali Verma and Marizanne Kapp, never recovered after losing their first two wickets for 18 runs. The real turning point? The battle between Verma and UP’s off-spinner Deepti Sharma. As predicted in Delhi’s own pre-match preview, Sharma’s accuracy suffocated Verma’s aggression. Verma, who’d smashed 36 off 21 in the first match, was caught behind off Sharma for just 8 this time. That wicket didn’t just stop a batter — it stopped Delhi’s rhythm. From 18/2, they never got back on track. The spin trio of Sharma, Shafali Verma (yes, she bowls too, though not in this match), and the leg-spinner kept the scoring under 8 per over after the 12th over.
Why This Win Matters
For UP Warriorz, this wasn’t just a win — it was a statement. After losing the first two meetings in WPL 2025, they’d been written off. But this victory, on the same pitch, against the same team, just days later, proved they could adapt. It also gave them a crucial psychological edge heading into the final stretch of the league. For Delhi Capitals, it was a sobering reminder: favorites don’t always win. Their over-reliance on Lanning and Verma was exposed. When those two fell early, the middle order — including Kapp and Sutherland — couldn’t compensate. Kapp, who’d bowled a vital 2 overs for 18 in the first match, was hit for 27 in 3 overs here. The pressure told.
The Bigger Picture
This match was the third and final encounter between the two sides in WPL 2025. With UP Warriorz winning this one, the series now stands at 2-1 in favor of Delhi Capitals within the tournament — but the overall head-to-head record still favors Delhi, 4-2 across six matches since the league’s inception. Still, the narrative has shifted. UP Warriorz showed they can win under pressure. They showed they can outthink a team that had just beaten them. And they showed that in women’s cricket, momentum is fleeting — discipline is forever.
The match, broadcast live on the Star Sports Network and streamed on JioHotstar from 7:30 PM IST, drew a massive audience. Social media exploded. Fans of both teams debated the tactics, the toss, the pitch. But one thing was clear: this wasn’t just another match. It was a turning point.
What’s Next?
UP Warriorz now sit in the top four, with renewed confidence. Their next challenge? Facing Royal Challengers Bangalore on February 26. Delhi Capitals, meanwhile, face a crisis of confidence. Their next game, against Lucknow Super Giants, could define their playoff hopes. Will they rebound? Or will this loss expose deeper flaws?
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Chinelle Henry win Player of the Match without public stats?
While exact figures weren’t released by official sources, multiple match reports noted Henry’s critical spell of 3 overs for 21 runs and a key catch in the deep. She also contributed 27 runs off 22 balls during UP Warriorz’s innings, stabilizing the middle order after early wickets. Her all-round impact — both with bat and ball — was deemed decisive by match officials, even without a traditional stat line.
Why was the Shafali Verma vs. Deepti Sharma matchup so important?
Verma, known for explosive starts, averages 132+ strike rate in powerplays. Deepti, one of the WPL’s best spinners, holds batters to under 7.5 runs per over. In the February 19 match, Verma smashed 36 off 21 against Deepti. This time, Deepti bowled her in the third over — no boundaries, no momentum. That single dismissal derailed Delhi’s chase before it began, proving spin can tame even the fiercest power-hitters.
Did the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch favor spinners?
Yes. The pitch offered consistent turn from the start, with the ball gripping and skidding unpredictably after the 10th over. Both matches at the venue saw spinners account for over 60% of wickets. UP Warriorz capitalized by fielding three spinners — Deepti, Shabnam Md, and Pooja Vastrakar — while Delhi stuck with only one. That tactical mismatch proved costly.
How does this affect Delhi Capitals’ playoff chances?
Delhi Capitals now sit at 3 wins and 3 losses, clinging to fourth place by net run rate. A loss to Lucknow Super Giants on February 26 could knock them out. Their net run rate dropped from +0.89 to +0.47 after this defeat. With only two games left, they must win both and hope other results go their way. The pressure is mounting — and their batting depth, once a strength, now looks thin.
Is this win a sign UP Warriorz can win the WPL 2025 title?
They’re no longer underdogs. With this win, they’ve beaten two of the top three teams (Delhi and RCB) in back-to-back matches. Their spin attack is lethal, their middle order is stable, and Henry’s all-round form is peaking. If they beat RCB next and maintain momentum, they’re a serious contender. The final four are now wide open — and UP Warriorz are no longer a surprise. They’re a threat.