Lanning and Sutherland oversee narrow WPL victory

There were Australians in the action everywhere you looked in Vadodara, but when the dust settled Meg Lanning and Annabel Sutherland were the ones celebrating as Delhi Capitals beat UP Warriorz in the Women's Premier League.

Lanning made 69 off 49 balls as the Capitals launched their pursuit of UP's 7-166, but was bowled by compatriot Grace Harris with 48 needed off 32 balls.

With the rate beginning to climb Sutherland found herself needing to hit 10 runs off the last five balls, bowled by Ashes-winning teammate Tahlia McGrath.

She swiped the first to wide midwicket where Alana King and Harris ran to intercept, but somehow got in each other's way allowing a four. The next ball was also cracked for four, through extra cover.

Sutherland then grabbed a single. 

With one to win, two to bowl, in came the fielders. Marizanne Kapp, a South African interloper into this Aussie showdown, stabbed the ball to mid-on and took off. Harris gathered, threw to McGrath – who failed to collect the ball and thus missed the run-out. 

Capitals were home, by a ball and seven wickets to spare. 

"We like a close finish, happy to be on the right side of it," said Lanning, whose team scrambled a two-wicket win off the last ball in their opening game.

Capitals lost their second game and Lanning added: "There's always areas to improve, but I feel this was our best performance of the tournament so far.

Of her own innings she said: "I felt I was positive from the first ball. Got my footwork going." 

Having preceded her unbeaten 41 (off 35 balls) by taking 2-26, ending Warriorz' 66-run opening partnership by dismissing both openers, Sutherland was player of the match.

"I just try to find out what's working as early as possible," she said. "It's tough for bowlers at times. Sometimes it's your day, sometimes it's not."

Sutherland was helped by being gifted a life on 23 by Sophie Ecclestone who spilled a simple chance at mid-on. The bowler was McGrath, suddenly less thrilled at English failings.

King, on as a substitute fielder, also dropped Kapp late on, though that was a harder chance. 

The other Australian in the game was Jess Jonassen, who bowled tidily to take 1-21 off four overs, the most economical return of the match, and picked up the wicket of McGrath (1), one of two stumpings by Scot Sarah Bryce.

Capitals moved to second in the five-team table, level on points with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who include Ellyse Perry, Georgia Wareham, Heather Graham and Kim Garth. Warriorz are bottom, and winless, but with a game in hand on all except RCB.

Australians at WPL 2025

Delhi Capitals: Annabel Sutherland, Jess Jonassen, Meg Lanning

Gujarat Giants: Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Phoebe Litchfield

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Ellyse Perry, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth, Heather Graham

UP Warriorz: Grace Harris, Tahlia McGrath

WPL 2025 standings

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Ties T	No results N/R	Net Run Rate NRR	Deductions Ded.	Total points PTS
1 Delhi Capitals Women DEL	8	5	3	0	0	0.396	0	10
2 Mumbai Indians Women MI	8	5	3	0	0	0.192	0	10
3 Gujarat Giants GUJ	8	4	4	0	0	0.228	0	8
4 Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women RCB	8	3	5	0	0	-0.196	0	6
5 UP Warriorz UPW	8	3	5	0	0	-0.624	0	6

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

T: Ties

N/R: No results

NRR: Net Run Rate

Ded.: Deductions

PTS: Total points