Delhi Capitals finally found their rhythm in the Women’s Premier League 2026, producing a nerve-wracking seven-wicket victory over UP Warriorz at the D.Y. Patil Stadium.
In a contest that swung violently in the final moments, Laura Wolvaardt emerged as the calm in the chaos, holding her nerve to steer Delhi home off the very last ball and hand the side their first win of the season. What unfolded was a game of sharp contrasts—UP Warriorz dominating large phases before unraveling under pressure, and Delhi Capitals oscillating between control and anxiety before clinching a result that could define their campaign.
The Collapse: Warriorz Lose Their Way
Winning the toss and opting to field, Delhi Capitals struck immediately. Marizanne Kapp set the tone in the opening over by dismissing Kiran Navgire for a duck, applying early pressure on a Warriorz batting unit searching for stability.
That stability arrived in familiar form. Meg Lanning, facing her former franchise, looked determined to anchor the innings with authority. She played a composed knock of 54, combining fluency with control, while Harleen Deol provided the necessary momentum at the other end with a well-constructed 47. At 132 for 2 in the 16th over, UP Warriorz appeared firmly on course for a total in excess of 170. Then came the turning point that will be debated long after the tournament ends.
In a bold tactical gamble, the UP management retired Harleen Deol, opting to inject late-innings firepower. The move backfired dramatically. Delhi seized the opening with ruthless efficiency. Shafali Verma, pressed into service with the ball, turned the game on its head by claiming two wickets in the final over, while Kapp continued to operate with precision and control.
From a position of strength, UP Warriorz imploded. They lost six wickets for just 24 runs in the final five overs, stumbling to a sub-par 154 for 8—a total that felt well below what their top-order platform had promised.
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Delhi’s reply began with raw intent. Lizelle Lee, for the second game running, batted as if conditions were tailor-made for her. She dismantled the Warriorz attack with a brutal 67 off 44 balls, striking the ball cleanly and frequently into the stands. At the other end, Shafali Verma played her role perfectly, contributing a brisk 36 as the pair stitched together a commanding 94-run opening partnership. At that stage, the chase appeared routine.
UP Warriorz, however, refused to fade quietly. Deepti Sharma dragged her side back into contention with two crucial breakthroughs, one of them the prized wicket of Delhi skipper Jemimah Rodrigues in the penultimate over. Suddenly, a chase that seemed straightforward turned into a test of temperament. With seven runs required off the final over, Sophie Ecclestone produced a spellbinding effort under pressure, conceding almost nothing and dragging the equation down to one run needed off the final ball.
The spotlight fell on Wolvaardt.
Unfazed by the tension, the South African batter showed why she is regarded as one of the game’s most reliable closers. She held her shape, waited for the ball, and pierced the off-side field for a boundary, sealing a dramatic win and ending Delhi’s winless start to the season. For UP Warriorz, it meant three consecutive defeats and a growing sense of frustration.
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The final scorecard reflected a match that UP Warriorz arguably let slip. Batting first, they posted 154 for 8, with Meg Lanning’s 54 and Harleen Deol’s 47 forming the backbone of the innings. Delhi Capitals’ bowlers were outstanding at the death, led by Shafali Verma’s 2 for 16 and Marizanne Kapp’s 2 for 24.
In reply, Delhi chased down the target with seven wickets in hand, finishing on 158 for 3. Lizelle Lee’s 67 laid the foundation, Shafali Verma’s 36 added impetus, and Laura Wolvaardt’s unbeaten 25 ensured a composed finish when it mattered most. Deepti Sharma’s 2 for 26 briefly revived UP’s hopes, but it was not enough to deny Delhi.
For her decisive all-round impact, Shafali Verma was named Player of the Match, capping off a contest that will be remembered as one of the early classics of WPL 2026.
