WPL25: Henry power rattles Capitals as UPW win by 33 runs

 

UP Warriorz secured a 33-run victory over Delhi Capitals in a high-intensity match at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, February 22. The star of the game was undoubtedly Chinelle Henry, who played a sensational knock of 62 runs off just 23 balls, propelling UP Warriorz to a formidable total of 177 runs. However, the final over saw another dramatic moment when Grace Harris stole the spotlight with a stunning hat-trick.

Chasing a target of 178, Delhi Capitals started sluggishly and benefitted from dropped catches . Lanning went cheaply bowled by an incutter from a promising Kranti Gaud for 5 , Shafali (24) enjoyed her luck briefly before getting out . It was Jemima Rodrigues who after a lean start , managed to hit her form and played a superb knock of 56 but the middle order completely flopped with Kapp(9) , Sutherland (5) , Jonnasen (5) failing . India found themselves on the brink of defeat even before the final over. With 34 runs required and only three wickets remaining, the task was challenging but not entirely impossible & However, any hopes of a miraculous turnaround vanished within the next three deliveries as Grace Harris dismissed the final three batters consecutively.

Harris struck on her first ball, removing Nicky Prasad for a bright 18 runs , and then took out Arundhati Reddy on the very next delivery. With just one wicket remaining, Harris had a golden opportunity to complete her hat-trick, and she did not disappoint. She dismissed Minnu Mani on the third ball, claiming her hat-trick and sealing a memorable victory for UP Warriorz. This made her the first bowler to take a hat-trick in this WPL season and only the third in WPL history. Before her, Issy Wong had achieved this feat in 2023 against UP Warriorz, and Deepti Sharma followed in 2024 for the same team.  UPW's young sensation Kranti Goud took 4 important wickets and got some top  batters out  . 

Earlier in the match, UP Warriorz had a shaky start, losing six wickets for just 89 runs. Navgire (17) , Dinesh (9) went cheaply and Deepti Sharma (9) inexplicably batting at number 3 failed to deliver   Their troubles deepened with cheap dismissals of McGrath & Harris as the scoreboard read 109/7, putting them in a precarious position. However, what followed was an extraordinary display of power-hitting by West Indies all-rounder Chinelle  Henry.

Coming in at No. 8, Henry unleashed carnage, reaching her half-century in just 18 balls, equaling the fastest fifty in WPL history. Her breathtaking innings of 62 runs off just 23 deliveries featured eight towering sixes and two boundaries, helping UP Warriorz post a competitive total of 177 runs.

This thrilling encounter saw UP Warriorz register a remarkable win, with player of the match Henry's explosive batting and Harris’ last-over heroics making it an unforgettable match.