Delhi Premier League 2024: South Delhi Superstarz Seal Final Berth Over Central Delhi Queens

Central Delhi Queens and South Delhi Superstarz clashed at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, where the Superstarz secured a crucial 17-run victory via the DLS method in the Delhi Premier League 2024. With this win, their second of the tournament, the South Delhi Superstarz booked their spot in the finals, showcasing a commanding all-round performance that solidified their path to the championship.

Armeet Kaur’s Steady Knock

After winning the toss, Central Delhi Queens decided to take advantage of batting first on a surface that promised a fair contest between bat and ball. Their innings, however, began cautiously as openers Armeet Kaur and Vandana Chaturvedi looked to assess the conditions. Armeet Kaur played a steady but restrained innings, managing 16 runs off 21 deliveries before being dismissed by Tanisha Singh in the 8th over. Her knock included a solitary boundary and a six, but she struggled to break free from the tight bowling.

Vandana Chaturvedi Plays A Crucial Knock

Vandana Chaturvedi, on the other hand, showed intent from the start, taking on the bowlers with confidence. Her 34 off 29 balls, which included seven boundaries, kept the scoreboard ticking and provided the Queens with a solid base. She played her shots with flair and ensured that the run rate remained healthy, but her dismissal came at a critical time. Caught by Ekta Bhadana off Medhavi Bidhuri, her wicket in the 9th over left the Queens at 57/2, just as they seemed to be gaining momentum.

Middle Order Collapse

The dismissal of Vandana exposed the Queens’ middle-order, and from that point on, the innings lost direction. Laxmi Yadav, the captain, was run out for 8, attempting a quick single, and her departure in the 12th over left the team in further trouble. Shivi’s brief stay at the crease resulted in just 2 runs off 3 balls before she was also run out. These quick wickets led to a dip in the run rate and left the Queens struggling at 63/3, putting the pressure squarely on their lower-middle order to rebuild.

Meenakshi Vashishat, who came in at number five, tried to anchor the innings but could not get going, managing only 12 off 19 deliveries. She eventually succumbed to a well-directed delivery from Aarti Kumari. At the other end, Parunika Sisodia’s stay was short-lived, scoring just 3 runs off 8 balls before she became Sumiti Soni’s only victim, leaving the Queens reeling at 74/5.

The innings was in danger of completely falling apart when Neha Chillar walked to the crease. In the midst of the struggles, Chillar provided a much-needed late surge with an unbeaten 24 off just 14 balls. Her innings, which included two boundaries and a six, injected some energy into the Queens’ innings, allowing them to push towards a competitive total.

Alongside Mayuri, who remained not out on 4, Chillar guided her side to 127/7 by the end of their 20 overs. Extras also played a notable part in the total, with 15 runs coming from wides and leg byes, reflecting some lack of discipline in the South Delhi Superstarz’ bowling.

South Delhi’s bowling effort was spearheaded by Tanisha Singh, whose brilliant figures of 2/7 in 3 overs were key in keeping the Queens from accelerating. Her ability to extract movement off the surface and maintain an impeccable line made her difficult to score off, and she accounted for the important wickets of Armeet Kaur and Deeksha Sharma.

Sumiti Soni also bowled impressively, conceding just 13 runs in her 4 overs while picking up a wicket. Although Medhavi Bidhuri was on the expensive side, leaking 28 runs in her 4 overs, she made up for it with the crucial wicket of Vandana Chaturvedi, breaking the Queens’ momentum at a critical stage.

While the Queens’ score of 127/7 seemed par for the course on the surface, the rain that followed meant the second innings was shortened to a 12-over affair. This shifted the balance significantly, as South Delhi Superstarz were given a target of just 69 runs to chase down, making the task far simpler than it initially appeared.

Rain Plays Spoilsport

With rain halting proceedings in the second innings, the match was reduced to a 12-over contest, significantly altering the dynamics of the chase. South Delhi Superstarz were set a revised target of 69 runs, a modest total that placed them in a commanding position right from the start. The Queens, having posted a competitive 127/7 in 20 overs, suddenly found themselves defending a much smaller target, and the challenge was immediately evident.

Shweta Sehrawat Paves The Way For A Win

South Delhi Superstarz began their pursuit with calm and precision, led by their captain, Shweta Sehrawat. Sehrawat, known for her composure and tactical acumen, played an exemplary knock, anchoring the chase with an unbeaten 44 off 36 balls. Her innings was a blend of calculated aggression and smart rotation of the strike, and it included three boundaries and a powerful six. Sehrawat’s ability to control the innings, pacing it according to the revised target, meant the Superstarz never felt under pressure despite the reduced overs.

Opening the batting with Chhavi Gupta, Sehrawat found an able partner who played her role to perfection. Gupta’s 32 off 32 balls provided a solid foundation, and although her strike rate was more measured, her ability to find gaps and rotate the strike allowed the Superstarz to maintain a steady run rate.

The duo’s partnership took the Superstarz to 72/1, well past the revised target, before Gupta was dismissed in the 11th over by Parunika Sisodia, caught after a well-fought innings. By the time Gupta departed, however, the result was all but certain, with only 17 runs needed from the final few overs.

Tanisha Singh came in at number three and ensured there were no late jitters. She scored a quickfire 7* off just 4 balls, further demonstrating her all-round capabilities after an impressive bowling display earlier in the day. With the game firmly under their control, the Superstarz cruised to a comfortable victory, finishing at 85/1 in 12 overs and winning by 17 runs via the DLS method.

For the Central Delhi Queens, the bowling attack lacked the penetration needed to put the Superstarz’ batters under pressure. Mahi, Parunika Sisodia, Mayuri, Ria Sharma, and Neha Chillar all bowled without much success, with Parunika being the only bowler to claim a wicket. Her figures of 1/18 from 3 overs were respectable, but the rest of the bowling unit struggled to contain the opposition.

The Queens needed early breakthroughs or tight spells to create pressure, but the disciplined and composed batting from the Superstarz negated any chance of that happening.

In the end, the Queens’ total of 127/7 was rendered insufficient in light of the revised target. The rain-induced adjustment in the overs and target favoured the Superstarz, who made full use of their opportunity. Shweta Sehrawat’s leadership with the bat was pivotal, as she ensured the chase was carried out with minimal fuss. Her knock not only steadied the innings but also exemplified how to manage a tricky, rain-affected chase.

South Delhi Superstarz’ all-round performance, combining a solid bowling display—particularly from Tanisha Singh and Sumiti Soni—with a composed batting effort, secured a convincing 17-run win via the DLS method. For the Queens, it was a case of missed opportunities, as their middle-order collapse and inability to build on promising starts ultimately left them defending a sub-par target. Despite some late heroics from Neha Chillar, their score proved inadequate under the revised conditions.

Brief Scores: Central Delhi Queens vs South Delhi Superstarz- Match 5 of the Delhi Premier League

Central Delhi Queens- 127/7 in 20 overs (Vandana Chaturvedi 34; Medhavi Bidhuri 1/28) lost to South Delhi Superstarz- 85/1 in 12 overs (Shweta Sehrawat 44, Chhavi Gupta 32; Parunika Sisodia 1/18) by 17 runs through DLS Method.

Click Here to get the latest news related to Women’s Cricket. You can also check about Match predictions here. Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more updates.