South African Lizelle Lee struck a powerful half-century to help Delhi Capitals post their first win of the Women’s Premier League at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday night. Delhi had had a stuttering start to the tournament but on Wednesday they looked a different side as they cruised to a seven-wicket win over Uttar Pradesh Warriorz.
Skipper Jemimah Rodrigues won the toss and invited Warriorz to bat first. The move paid off as Marizanne Kapp struck first blow by getting rid of Kiran Navgire (0) in the first over of the innings. Delhi found further success as Phoebe Litchfield (27) was stumped by Lee off Sneh Rana but Warriorz rallied thereafter.
Skipper Meg Lanning along with Harleen Deol took charge of the proceedings as they added 85 for the third wicket to bring their side back into the game. However, Capitals roared back when Nandani Sharma had Lanning caught by Chinelle Henry after the skipper had made a 38-ball 54 with nine fours and a six. Harleen retired out after making 47 off 36 balls with seven fours.
Thereafter, the Warriorz crumbled under pressure and were restricted to 154 for eight. They lost six wickets for 22 runs as the Capitals’ bowlers tightened the screws.
On the other hand, Capitals had a solid start as Shafali Varma and Lee put the rival attack to the sword. The duo added 94 for the opening wicket before Shafali was sent back by Asha Sobhana after making 36 (32 balls; 6×4).
Lee and Laura Wolvaardt then took the score to 114 before the former perished for 67. Lee faced 44 balls and struck eight fours and three sixes in her entertaining innings. By the time she departed, Capitals were in a strong position.
Laura (25 no) and Jemimah (21) struck a 34-run partnership to take the issue beyond Warriorz. Laura struck Sophie Ecclestone for a boundary off the last ball to scrape through and log in their first points in the tournament. On the other hand, Warriorz remain barren.
“Very happy. It was a nail-biting finish but proud of the way the girls held their nerve. Everyone was pretty calm (even though it went down to the wire). It was a bit nervy towards the end when I lost my wicket. It was a bit of deja vu. But the way Kapp and Laura finished it off, hats off. We bowled really well today. The way Sneh came back. That is cricket. It was crucial to get us going. All our bowlers bowled well but Shafali was the standout. She contributes for DC either with the bat or ball. She is very confident in her bowling. Wake her up from her sleep and she will be ready to bowl. She was phenomenal (tonight),” said Jemimah.
“It was an excellent effort from the bowlers to take it that deep. It was tougher to bat, when pace was taken off. Felt we were in the game if we bowled well. Great effort to take it that deep,” said Lanning.
On her knock, she said: “Nice to get away. Would have loved to have kept going. Hopefully there are a few more (such knocks).”
Asked about the decision to retire out Deol, she said: “Tryon is a boundary hitter, and we wanted to maximise that as much as we could. Harleen batted well. We make a decision based on what is best for the team. unfortunately for Harleen, it is what happened. Some days it works, sometimes it doesn’t.”
Brief scores: UP Warriorz 154/8 in 20 overs (Meg Lanning 54, Phoebe Litchfield 27, Harleen Deol 47 retd out; Marizanne Kapp 2/24, Shafali Varma 2/16) lost to Delhi Capitals 158/3 in 20 overs (Shafali Varma 36, Lizelle Lee 67, Laura Wolvaardt 25 no, Jemimah Rodrigues 21; Deepti Sharma 2/26).
