Home
Delhi Capitals (DC) survived UP Warriorz's scare and pulled off a thrilling seven-wicket win in their Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 clash on January 14. Capitals snapped a two-match losing streak by defeating the UP Warriorz by seven wickets. This crucial win provides much-needed momentum for a side that had been struggling to find its rhythm early in the season.
Delhi Capitals edge UP Warriorz by 7 wickets
After failing to cross the finish line in a heartbreaking loss to the Gujarat Giants in their previous fixture, the Capitals showed significantly more poise this time around to navigate a tense final stretch. While the win keeps them at the fourth spot on the points table, it provided a vital boost to their net run rate, which now stands at –0.833.
On the other side of the result, the UP Warriorz continue to face a challenging period under the leadership of Meg Lanning. Despite the team's loss, Lanning achieved a major personal milestone, becoming just the third player in league history, following Harmanpreet Kaur and Nat Sciver-Brunt, to surpass 1,000 career WPL runs. However, this individual success was overshadowed by the team's ongoing search for consistency.
ALSO READ: Breaking: Big blow to India as star player ruled out of T20I series vs New Zealand
The transition for Lanning has been a notable talking point this season. The legendary Australian captain, who previously built a winning culture during her highly successful tenure with the Capitals, has found it much harder to replicate that dominance with the Warriorz. As the tournament progresses, the pressure remains on Lanning to translate her legendary status into a winning formula for her new franchise.
Meg Lanning's fifty in vain
After being put in to bat, the UP Warriorz faced an immediate setback when Kiran Navgire’s difficult season continued; she was dismissed for a duck in the opening over by a clinical Marizanne Kapp. This early blow forced the Warriorz onto the back foot, but the innings was quickly revitalized by an aggressive 47-run partnership between Meg Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield. Litchfield was particularly impactful early on, striking five boundaries in a brisk 27 before falling victim to a sharp stumping off the bowling of Sneh Rana.
Following Litchfield's departure, Lanning took full control of the innings, finally finding the rhythm that had eluded her earlier in the tournament. She reached her first half-century of the WPL 2026 season in just 32 balls, anchoring the team alongside Harleen Deol. The pair shared a vital 85-run stand for the third wicket, positioning the Warriorz for a substantial total. Lanning's fine knock of 54 eventually ended when she was caught off Nandini Sharma while attempting to shift into a higher gear.
The match then saw a rare tactical moment during the 17th over when Harleen Deol was "retired out"—making her only the second player in the league's history to be dismissed in this fashion. Despite appearing well-set with a composed 47 off 36 balls, the team management opted to bring in fresh power for the final overs. It was a surprising decision given Harleen’s fluency and her role in stabilizing the innings up to that point.
ALSO READ: Shubman Gill reveals reals reason behind India's seven-wicket loss to New Zealand in 2nd ODI
However, the gamble failed to pay off as the Warriorz's momentum evaporated in the death overs. The batting order suffered a frantic collapse, losing six wickets for a mere 20 runs in the final four-plus overs to finish on 154 for eight. The Delhi Capitals' bowlers capitalized on the panic, with Marizanne Kapp and Shafali Verma claiming two wickets each, supported by disciplined strikes from Nandini Sharma, Sneh Rana, and Shree Charani.
Lizelle Lee powers DC to nail-biting win over UP W
Delhi Capitals began their pursuit of 155 with a measured approach, as openers Lizelle Lee and Shafali Verma initially prioritized stability over aggression. The pair navigated the early overs cautiously, accumulating 30 runs as they adjusted to the conditions. However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the final over of the powerplay when Lee targeted Chloe Tryon, smashing two consecutive boundaries followed by a towering six to ensure Delhi finished the period on a high note.
The opening duo continued to dominate the middle overs, combining calculated aggression with steady strike rotation. Their 94-run partnership, which came off just 69 balls, placed the Capitals in a commanding position before Deepti Sharma finally provided a breakthrough for the UP Warriorz. She dismissed Shafali Verma for a well-constructed 36, which included six boundaries. Despite the loss of her partner, Lee remained unfazed, powering her way to a second consecutive half-century off 31 deliveries.
ALSO READ: Revealed: How Kohli might lose no.1 spot moments after becoming Numero Uno, ending 1403-day wait
Lee eventually fell for a brilliant 67 off 44 balls, leaving Delhi requiring 41 runs from the final 32 deliveries. While Laura Wolvaardt anchored one end, Jemimah Rodrigues provided a quick spark before becoming Deepti Sharma’s second victim in the 19th over. Her dismissal for 21 left the Capitals needing seven runs off the final six balls, creating a high-pressure scenario that echoed their recent narrow defeat to the Gujarat Giants.
The final over, bowled by the experienced Sophie Ecclestone, pushed the game to the absolute limit. After a dot ball to start, Marizanne Kapp managed to find the fence with a crucial four, but the Warriorz fought back with two more dot balls. With only one run required off the final delivery, Wolvaardt kept her cool, drilling the ball through the off-side for a boundary. Finishing unbeaten on 25, Wolvaardt’s technical precision ensured the Capitals secured a hard-fought, seven-wicket victory on the very last ball.
ADVERTISEMENT
