Hey cricket fans! If you’re like me, nothing beats the rush of a Women’s Premier League match that goes down to the wire. The Delhi Capitals Women vs UP Warriorz Women WPL 2026 clash was exactly that – a heart-pounding thriller at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. On January 14, 2026, Delhi Capitals finally broke their losing streak with a dramatic seven-wicket win, chasing down 155 on the last ball. Shafali Verma’s all-round brilliance stole the show, earning her Player of the Match honors.
This bottom-of-the-table battle had everything: explosive batting, clever bowling, controversial tactics, and nail-biting finishes. For IPL Star readers, we’re diving deep into the action. Whether you’re a die-hard WPL follower or just catching up, this recap covers it all. Let’s break it down step by step.
As a special nod to our readers in Maharashtra like Rohit, who know their cricket inside out, we’ll keep things straightforward and exciting – just like a Virat Kohli cover drive.
Match Preview and Toss: Setting the Stage for Drama
Both teams entered this WPL 2026 7th match desperate for points. Delhi Capitals Women had lost their first two games, stumbling against Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians. UP Warriorz Women were even worse off, winless after defeats to Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Giants.
The venue, Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, is known for its balanced pitches. In past WPL seasons, it favored batters early but slowed down later, aiding spinners. Capacity crowd? Not quite – this one was behind closed doors due to local restrictions, but the energy on TV was electric.
Stand-in captain Jemimah Rodrigues won the toss for Delhi Capitals Women and opted to bowl first. “The dew might help later, and we want to chase,” she said at the toss. Meg Lanning, captaining UP Warriorz against her old team, would have batted anyway. UP made one change: Chloe Tryon debuted, replacing Deandra Dottin for better matchups against DC’s batters.
This decision set up an intriguing contest. DC’s bowling attack, led by Marizanne Kapp, aimed to exploit early swing. UP relied on Lanning’s experience and their power-hitters to post a big total.
UP Warriorz Innings: From Solid Start to Shocking Collapse
UP Warriorz started steadily after being inserted. Kiran Navgire fell early for a duck, caught by Shafali Verma off Marizanne Kapp. But Meg Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield attacked, smashing boundaries in the powerplay.
The powerplay ended at 47/1 – healthy, with Litchfield’s 27 off 20 including five fours. Sneh Rana struck first ball after, stumping Litchfield.
Lanning then partnered Harleen Deol for 85 runs. Lanning reached her fifty in 32 balls, crossing 1000 WPL runs. Deol was fluent, hitting seven fours.
At 130/2 after 15 overs, UP eyed 170+. Then disaster struck.
Lanning holed out to Nandni Sharma for 54. In a bold move, UP retired Deol out on 47 to bring in Tryon. It backfired – Tryon scored 1 off 3, caught off Shree Charani.
Wickets tumbled: Sophie Ecclestone lbw to Kapp, Shweta Sehrawat and Deepti Sharma to Shafali Verma. UP added just 24 in the last five overs, finishing 154/8.
Shafali’s 2-16 was outstanding on a turning track. Kapp’s 2-24 provided control.
Here’s the full UP Warriorz scorecard in table form:
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiran Navgire | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Meg Lanning (c) | 54 | 38 | 9 | 1 | 142.11 |
| Phoebe Litchfield | 27 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 135.00 |
| Harleen Deol | 47 | 36 | 7 | 0 | 130.56 |
| Shweta Sehrawat (wk) | 11 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 91.67 |
| Chloe Tryon | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Sophie Ecclestone | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 60.00 |
| Asha Sobhana Joy | 1* | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Deepti Sharma | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Shikha Pandey | 2* | 1 | 0 | 0 | 200.00 |
| Extras | 6 | (w 5, nb 1) | |||
| Total | 154/8 | 20 overs | 7.7 rpo |
Fall of Wickets:
| Wicket | Score | Over |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0.3 |
| 2 | 47 | 6.1 |
| 3 | 132 | 15.3 |
| 4 | 141 | 17 |
| 5 | 143 | 17.4 |
| 6 | 148 | 18.6 |
| 7 | 150 | 19.3 |
| 8 | 152 | 19.5 |
DC Bowling:
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Eco |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marizanne Kapp | 4 | 1 | 24 | 2 | 6.00 |
| Minnu Mani | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 16.00 |
| Chinelle Henry | 2 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 10.00 |
| Nandni Sharma | 3 | 0 | 29 | 1 | 9.70 |
| Sneh Rana | 2 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 10.00 |
| Shree Charani | 4 | 0 | 29 | 1 | 7.20 |
| Shafali Verma | 4 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 4.00 |
Partnerships were key. Lanning and Deol’s 85-run stand was the highlight, but the collapse showed middle-order fragility.
This innings reminded me of UP’s past WPL struggles – strong starts, weak finishes. Lanning’s knock was class, but the retired out call sparked debates.
For more stats ESPN Cricinfo.
Delhi Capitals Chase: Cruise Control Turns into Tension
Delhi Capitals opened with Shafali Verma and Lizelle Lee, and they flew out of the gates. Boundaries flowed early, with Lee smashing Chloe Tryon for two fours and a six in the powerplay’s last over.
Powerplay: 46/0 – matching UP’s effort.
The duo added 94 for the first wicket. Lee reached fifty in 30 balls, her second in a row. Shafali supported with 36 off 32, six fours.
Then, a slowdown. From overs 11-14, just 21 runs. Shafali fell reverse-sweeping Asha Sobhana. Lee holed out to Deepti Sharma.
Jemimah Rodrigues injected 21 off 14 with sweeps, adding 34 with Laura Wolvaardt.
At 148/3, needing 7 off 7, it got tense. Sophie Ecclestone’s last over: dot, four by Kapp, dots, single, last-ball four by Wolvaardt.
DC won by 7 wickets, but it was closer than it should have been.
DC Scorecard:
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shafali Verma | 36 | 32 | 6 | 0 | 112.50 |
| Lizelle Lee (wk) | 67 | 44 | 8 | 3 | 152.27 |
| Laura Wolvaardt | 25* | 24 | 2 | 1 | 104.17 |
| Jemimah Rodrigues (c) | 21 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 150.00 |
| Marizanne Kapp | 5* | 6 | 1 | 0 | 83.33 |
| Extras | 4 | (lb 1, w 3) | |||
| Total | 158/3 | 20 overs | 7.9 rpo |
Fall of Wickets:
| Wicket | Score | Over |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 94 | 11.3 |
| 2 | 114 | 14.4 |
| 3 | 148 | 18.5 |
UP Bowling:
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Eco |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kranti Gaud | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 5.00 |
| Shikha Pandey | 4 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 5.50 |
| Sophie Ecclestone | 4 | 0 | 44 | 0 | 11.00 |
| Chloe Tryon | 3 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 11.70 |
| Asha Sobhana Joy | 4 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 5.00 |
| Deepti Sharma | 3 | 0 | 26 | 2 | 8.70 |
The chase showed DC’s depth, but also nerves from recent losses.
Key Turning Points and Dramatic Moments
This match had twists that kept fans glued.
- Early Wicket and Review Drama: Kapp’s lbw appeal on Navgire was turned down, upheld on review as umpire’s call. Navgire lofted the next ball to mid-off – momentum shift.
- Powerplay Aggression by UP: 47/1 with multiple boundaries set a platform, but Litchfield’s stumping post-powerplay halted it.
- Lanning-Deol Partnership: 85 runs in 56 balls pushed UP to 130/2. Lanning’s six over long-on was the shot of the innings.
- Lanning’s Dismissal: Holing out triggered the collapse – from 132/3 to 154/8.
- Harleen Deol Retired Out: On 47, called back for Tryon. Backfired as Tryon fell cheaply. This tactical gamble drew criticism.
- Shafali’s Bowling Spell: 4 overs for 16 runs and 2 wickets in death overs starved UP of runs.
- Lee-Shafali Opening Stand: 94 runs made the chase look easy, but middle-over dots built pressure.
- Last Over Thriller: Ecclestone’s over – 6 off 6 became 1 off 1. Wolvaardt’s boundary won it, echoing DC’s previous last-over loss.
These moments defined the game. Could UP have won without the retired out? It’s a big what-if.
Standout Player Performances
Shafali Verma – Player of the Match and All-Round Hero
Shafali Verma was the star. With bat: 36 off 32, steady in the 94-run stand. With ball: 2-16, dismissing Sehrawat and Deepti.
Her stump-to-stump line on a turning pitch was smart. As she said post-match: “I envision myself batting when I bowl – avoid full tosses.”
In WPL history, Shafali has 800+ runs and now key wickets. This performance boosts her confidence after a quiet start to 2026.
Stats Comparison:
| Aspect | This Match | WPL Career Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Batting Runs | 36 | 25.5 |
| Bowling Wkts | 2 | 0.8 per match |
| Economy | 4.00 | 7.2 |
Lizelle Lee – The Anchor Turned Aggressor
Lizelle Lee’s 67 off 44 was explosive. Eight fours, three sixes – her second fifty in WPL 2026.
She targeted Tryon, smashing 16 in one over. Behind the stumps, she stumped Litchfield.
Lee’s form is vital for DC. From Big Bash success, she’s trusting her hands more. Quote: “The team supports me – happy to contribute.”
Her SR of 152.27 was match-high.
Meg Lanning – Class Against Former Team
Meg Lanning’s 54 off 38 was vintage. Nine fours, one six – reached 1000 WPL runs.
Against ex-team DC, she rebuilt after early loss. But her pull shot dismissal started the slide.
Lanning’s captaincy record now 5 straight losses, tying WPL records. Still, her knock showed why she’s a legend.
Bowling Stars – Kapp, Asha Sobhana, Deepti Sharma
Marizanne Kapp: 2-24, early wicket, death control.
Asha Sobhana: 1-20, tight legspin dismissed Shafali.
Deepti Sharma: 2-26, late wickets of Lee and Rodrigues created doubt.
Underperformers and Missed Opportunities
Chloe Tryon: 1 off 3 on debut – the retired out didn’t work.
Sophie Ecclestone: 0-44, expensive despite dots in last over.
UP’s middle order scored just 24 in last 5 overs – a recurring issue.
Tactical Breakdown – What Worked and What Didn’t
DC’s bowling plan shone. Using Shafali in middle and death overs exploited the turn. Kapp’s swing early and pace-off later restricted boundaries.
UP’s batting tactics flopped. Retiring Deol out aimed to maximize Tryon, but as Lanning defended: “It was to get a boundary hitter in – didn’t work today.”
UP delayed Deepti until over 15 – a mistake, as her wickets came late.
Fielding was sharp for both, but UP’s powerplay bowling leaked runs.
DC’s chase strategy: aggressive start, then caution. Rodrigues’ proactive sweeps against spin worked.
Overall, DC adapted better to the slowing pitch.
Post-Match Reactions and Captains’ Views
Shafali Verma (translated): “Confident in my bowling from domestics. Took dots and singles – tough to defend 200s earlier. Practiced sweeps for turning tracks.”
Jemimah Rodrigues: “Proud of the calm. Shafali was standout – always ready to bowl.”
Lizelle Lee: “Miscommunication on my dismissal, but team crossed the line. Enjoying keeping.”
Meg Lanning: “Bowlers took it deep. Retired out was tactical for Tryon. Keen for first win tomorrow.”
These quotes show DC’s boost, UP’s positives amid losses.
Key Stats and Records Broken
- Last-ball chases in WPL: 4th instance.
- Lanning: 3rd to 1000 WPL runs.
- Lanning’s captaincy losses: 5 straight, joint-most.
- Shafali: Best bowling figures this season.
- DC: First win after 0-2 start.
- UP: 0-3, worst start in franchise history.
Boundary Count:
| Team | Fours | Sixes |
|---|---|---|
| UP | 22 | 1 |
| DC | 20 | 4 |
Dot Balls: Both 41%.
Updated WPL 2026 Points Table and Implications
After this win, DC climbs to 4th. UP stays bottom.
| Rank | Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RCB Women | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1.964 |
| 2 | Mumbai Indians Women | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0.901 |
| 3 | Gujarat Giants Women | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0.105 |
| 4 | Delhi Capitals Women | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.833 |
| 5 | UP Warriorz Women | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -1.543 |
DC now has momentum for playoffs. UP needs wins fast – next vs Mumbai.
Conclusion – A Thriller That Changes the Momentum
This Delhi Capitals Women vs UP Warriorz Women WPL 2026 match was pure entertainment. DC’s resilience in the chase and bowling smarts turned the tide. UP’s collapse highlights fixes needed.
For DC, Shafali’s emergence as all-rounder is huge. UP, with Lanning’s class, can bounce back.
What did you think of the retired out tactic? Share in comments! Follow IPL Star for more WPL updates.
FAQs: Delhi Capitals Women vs UP Warriorz Women WPL 2026
- Who won the Delhi Capitals Women vs UP Warriorz Women WPL 2026 7th match? Delhi Capitals Women registered their first win of WPL 2026, defeating UP Warriorz Women by 7 wickets in a thrilling last-ball chase at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai on January 14, 2026.
- What is the full WPL 2026 7th match recap between DCW and UPW? UP Warriorz posted 154/8, led by Meg Lanning’s fifty. Delhi Capitals chased 158/3 on the final delivery, powered by a 94-run opening stand and late drama, marking a dramatic last-ball thriller WPL 2026.
- Who was the Player of the Match in Delhi Capitals Women vs UP Warriorz Women WPL 2026? Shafali Verma earned Player of the Match honors for her all-round brilliance — 36 runs off 32 balls and economical bowling figures of 2/16 that restricted UP Warriorz in the death overs.
- What were the key DCW vs UPW highlights from the WPL 2026 7th match? Standout moments included Lizelle Lee’s aggressive fifty (67 off 44), Meg Lanning’s classy 54, the controversial Harleen Deol retired out on 47, Shafali Verma’s tight spell, and Laura Wolvaardt’s match-winning last-ball boundary in this last-ball thriller WPL 2026.
- Why was Harleen Deol retired out in the Delhi Capitals Women vs UP Warriorz Women WPL 2026 match? UP Warriorz tactically retired Harleen Deol out at 47 to bring in power-hitter Chloe Tryon for death-over acceleration. The move backfired as UP added only 13 runs while losing 4 wickets in the final three overs.
- How did Meg Lanning perform against her former team in WPL 2026? Meg Lanning scored a fluent 54 off 38 balls against Delhi Capitals, reaching the milestone of 1000 WPL runs and equalling the record for most fifties (10) in the tournament’s history.
- What role did Lizelle Lee play in Delhi Capitals’ first win WPL 2026? Delhi Capitals Women vs UP Warriorz Women Lizelle Lee smashed a match-turning fifty (67 off 44 with 8 fours and 3 sixes), forming a explosive 94-run opening partnership with Shafali Verma that set up DCW’s successful chase.
- How did the last-ball thriller WPL 2026 unfold in the DCW vs UPW match? Delhi Capitals Women vs UP Warriorz Women Needing 6 off the final over, Delhi lost momentum but Marizanne Kapp hit a boundary before Laura Wolvaardt sealed the 7-wicket victory with a four off the last ball against Sophie Ecclestone.
- What is the updated WPL 2026 points table after Delhi Capitals Women vs UP Warriorz Women? Delhi Capitals Women vs UP Warriorz Women Delhi Capitals climbed to 4th with 2 points and an improved NRR of -0.833, while UP Warriorz remained winless at the bottom (0 points, NRR -1.543) after their third straight defeat.
- Where can I watch DCW vs UPW highlights from WPL 2026 7th match? Official highlights are available on the WPL YouTube channel, JioCinema, and sites like ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz. Search for “Delhi Capitals Women vs UP Warriorz Women WPL 2026 highlights” for full video recaps.
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