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Jemimah Rodrigues-led Delhi Capitals (DC) opened their account in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 with a seven-wicket victory against UP Warriorz in a nail-biting last-ball thriller at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday, January 14. Lizelle Lee starred with the bat while Shafali Verma produced a fine all-round performance to help Delhi Capitals bag their first two points in the season.
After bowling a brilliant spell of 2/16 off her 4 overs to help her side restrict UP Warriorz to 154/8 in 20 overs, Shafali played a vital knock of 36 runs with the bat. She combined with Lee to get DC off to a flyer in the 155-run chase with a 94-run stand for the first wicket. Shafali is known for her hitting prowess, but she had to take a backseat during DC's chase on Wednesday as Lee looked in destructive touch.
Continuing her purple patch, Lee hammered a quickfire 67 off 44 balls to set up the stage for a successful chase for DC at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Lee and Shafali got off to brisk starts and took the UP Warriorz bowlers to the cleaners. The South Africa wicket-keeper batter top-scored for her side with 67 off 44 balls, laced with 8 fours and three sixes, while Shafali's 36-run knock was studded with six fours.
Spinner Asha Shobana dismissed Shafali in the 12th over to draw the first blood for the Warriorz, before Deepti Sharma sent back the dangerous Lee on 67 in the 15th over. The Warriorz bowlers made a comeback in the contest after the duo's departure, but the damage had already been done by the 94-run opening stand.
UP Warriorz bowlers did well to take the game into the final over, however, Laura Wolvaardt held her nerves under pressure to get a boundary on the final ball with 1 required to win. Wolvaardt remained unbeaten on 25 off 24 balls, while DC skipper Rodrigues scored 21 off 14 balls to pay her part in her team's victory.
Barring Deepti Sharma, who picked up the wickets of Lee and Rodrigues, none of the UP Warriorz bowlers managed to impress as DC nearly cruised to victory despite facing a nervy final over. While DC got off the mark in the season, UP Warriorz suffered their third straight defeat in the tournament as they remain winless in WPL 2026.
The seven-wicket defeat against Delhi Capitals on Wednesday marked UP Warriorz's third loss in a row in the WPL 2026 as they remain the only team yet to open their account in the season. It was yet another disappointing outing for the Meg Lanning-led Warriorz after a poor show from their middle order and the bowlers.
Asked to bat first, Warriorz' opening pair once again failed to deliver as Kiiran Navgire was dismissed on a duck in the very first over. However, a fighting 38-ball 54 from skipper Lanning and an unbeaten 47 from Harleen Deol helped the Warriorz post 154/8 in 20 overs.
Lanning and Harleen added 85 runs for the third wicket to set the stage for a big total for the Warriorz. However, a questionable decision from the head coach Abhishek Nayar-led team management to retire out Harleen on 47 immediately after Lanning's dismissal raised eyebrows and left many baffled.
Warriorz wanted to capitalise by replacing Harleen with Chloe Tryon, however, the move backfired as the West Indies all-rounder was dismissed cheaply on 1. The likes of Shweta Sehrawat (11) and Sophie Ecclestone (5) also failed to make an impact as UP Warriorz could only add 22 runs in 4.3 overs after Lanning's dismissal.
The decision to retire Harleen hurt UP Warriorz severely and ended up costing them the game in the end, as they remain winless in the WPL 2026. UP Warriorz will hope to bag their first win of the season when they take on the defending champions Mumbai Indians in their next game on Thursday, January 15.
