Delhi Capitals Register First Victory in WPL 2026
Delhi Capitals secured their inaugural win of the Women's Premier League 2026 season on Wednesday. They defeated UP Warriorz by seven wickets in a thrilling encounter at Navi Mumbai.
Lee's Explosive Batting Steers the Chase
South African batter Lizelle Lee delivered another powerful performance. She scored 67 runs from just 44 balls, hitting eight boundaries and three sixes. This follows her 86 in the previous match, making a strong statement for a potential national team recall.
Lee anchored the chase after Delhi Capitals were set a target of 155 runs. She received solid support from opener Shafali Verma, who contributed 36 runs off 32 deliveries before her dismissal.
Warriorz Collapse in Death Overs
UP Warriorz posted a total of 154 for eight after winning the toss and choosing to bat first. Their innings suffered a dramatic collapse during the final five overs.
The team lost six wickets while adding only 24 runs in that crucial phase. Captain Meg Lanning top-scored with 54 runs from 38 balls, forming an 85-run partnership with Harleen Deol for the third wicket.
In a controversial move, the Warriorz management retired out Harleen Deol on 47 runs before the 17th over. This decision backfired as the team failed to accelerate in the death overs.
Nervous Finish for Delhi
Despite a comfortable position, Delhi Capitals made the chase interesting by taking it to the final ball. Captain Jemimah Rodrigues fell in the penultimate over after scoring 21 runs from 12 balls.
Experienced batter Laura Wolvaardt held her nerve, remaining unbeaten on 25 runs from 24 balls. She hit the winning boundary off the last delivery to seal the victory.
Sophie Ecclestone bowled a tight final over for Warriorz, but Wolvaardt's composure proved decisive.
Bowling Efforts and Standings
Marizanne Kapp was the most effective bowler for Delhi Capitals, taking two wickets for 24 runs in her four overs. Shafali Verma also claimed two wickets in the final over of the Warriorz innings.
This victory marks Delhi Capitals' first win in three matches this season. UP Warriorz continue to search for their first success in WPL 2026.
The match also featured another retired out incident, following Ayushi Soni's dismissal for Gujarat Giants on Tuesday. The Women's Premier League continues to produce exciting cricket with new tactical elements.
