UP Warriorz's Meg Lanning Commends Bowlers Despite Narrow Loss to Delhi Capitals
Match Overview and Lanning's Insights
Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 15: Following a tough seven-wicket loss to the Delhi Capitals in the 2026 Women’s Premier League, UP Warriorz captain Meg Lanning expressed her admiration for her bowlers, who fought valiantly until the final ball.
In the post-match presentation, Lanning addressed the decision to retire Harleen Deol. She explained that the team aimed to optimize their chances by sending in Chloe Tryon, known for her boundary-hitting ability.
Lanning remarked, "The bowlers did a fantastic job to keep us in the game until the end. Batting became challenging when the pace was reduced. I felt we had a chance if we bowled well. It was a great effort to take it that far. Regarding my innings, I was pleased to contribute and hope to continue performing well. As for Harleen's retirement, we believed Tryon could maximize our scoring potential. Harleen played well, and we made the decision that we thought was best for the team. Sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesn’t. Regarding the choice to replace Dottin with Tryon, I felt Chloe was a better match-up against DC. There are positives to take away from this match, along with lessons learned. MI has some exceptional players, and I’m eager for that challenge," as reported by a Media House.
Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma Shine
Jemimah Rodrigues commended her teammates for their composure during the tense match, particularly praising Shafali Verma for her outstanding bowling performance.
"I’m thrilled with how we handled the pressure. It was a nail-biting finish, but the girls remained calm, even as the match tightened. Losing my wicket was a bit of a déjà vu moment, but Kapp and Laura finished the game brilliantly. Our bowlers performed exceptionally well, and Shafali was the standout. She contributes significantly to DC, whether with bat or ball, and her confidence in bowling is remarkable. She’s always ready to bowl, even if woken from sleep. She was phenomenal today," Jemimah stated.
Shafali Verma's Player of the Match Performance
After being named Player of the Match, Shafali Verma shared, "I have confidence in my bowling, which has grown through domestic cricket and performing in high-stakes matches like a World Cup final. We aimed to bowl stump to stump, allowing only singles and minimizing boundaries. As a hard hitter, I strategize my bowling by thinking like a batter. Today’s pitch turned, making it difficult to hit sixes. I got out trying a reverse sweep, but I keep practicing new shots as part of my growth. Regarding my opening partnership with Lee, I’ve been opening with Meg for three years, and now Lee and I are developing a good synergy, focusing on giving the strike to whoever is performing well."
Match Highlights and Statistics
In the match, UP Warriorz batted first after being put in by Delhi Capitals. Following the dismissal of Kiran Navgire for a duck, a partnership of 47 runs between Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield (who scored 27 off 20 balls) and an 85-run partnership with Harleen Deol (who retired out after scoring 47 off 36 balls) helped stabilize the innings.
Delhi Capitals' bowlers, including Marizanne Kapp (2/24 in four overs), Shafali Verma (2/16 in four overs), and Shree Charani (1/29), effectively restricted UP Warriorz to 154/8 in their 20 overs.
Meg Lanning achieved a milestone by becoming the third player to score 1,000 runs in the Women’s Premier League, finishing as the top scorer for her team with 54 runs off 38 balls, including nine fours and a six, at a strike rate of 142.11.
In her WPL career, Lanning has amassed 1,050 runs at an average of 38.88, with a strike rate of 125.74, including ten fifties, and her highest score is 92. This season, she has scored 98 runs in three innings, averaging 32.66 with a strike rate nearing 114, making her the second-highest run-scorer in WPL history.
During the chase, Delhi Capitals got off to a strong start with a 94-run partnership between openers Shafali Verma and Lizelle Lee. Verma scored 36 runs off 32 balls, while Lee contributed 67 runs off 44 balls, including eight fours and three sixes.
Despite a hiccup when Jemimah fell for 21 runs off 14 balls, Laura Wolvaardt remained composed, scoring an unbeaten 21 off 14 balls to secure a seven-wicket victory for her team.