Shafali Verma and Meg Lanning Lead Delhi Capitals to Victory in Women's Premier League

Shafali Verma and Meg Lanning both scored fifty runs in a flowing way, while experienced bowler Marizanne Kapp's sharp new-ball performance contributed to the Delhi Capitals' easy nine-wicket victory against UP Warriorz in their Women's Premier League encounter on Monday.

With a masterful exhibition of strokeplay, Shafali (64 not out, 43 balls, 6x4, 4x6) and the seasoned Lanning (51, 43 balls, 6x4) destroyed the Warriorz bowlers, helping them surpass the goal of 120 in only 14.3 overs.

However, Kapp was the one who set the stage for that victory with a fantastic opening burst of 4-1-5-3, which reduced the Warriorz to 119/9 in 20 overs.

Shafali, who was dismissed by Kiran Navgire off Deepti Sharma for 48, and skipper Lanning showed no mercy to the Warriorz bowlers right away. The first-year player for India hit a six off left-arm spinner Gouhar Sultana and then took Tahlia McGrath by storm.

Shafali sent the ball over the bowler's head for a six after hammering the Australian for a four over mid-wicket.

With only 36 balls remaining, she quickly hit her fifty with a huge six off off-spinner Deepti that flew over mid-wicket.

Lanning, who mostly used drives and sweeps, raced between the wickets for a double off Sophie Ecclestone, reaching her own fifty in 42 balls.

But Lanning was out with only one run remaining, as Vrinda Dinesh lapped up her uppish shot at backward square leg.

Earlier, Kapp used incredible stats to support Capitals captain Lanning's choice to bowl first, as she completed her quota in a one burst.

She was caught at deep third guy, so she began her destructive task by getting rid of Vrinda. McGrath was the second to go, growling as Kapp jostled her stumps. After pitching on middle and off stump line, the ball slightly veered off course to crash against the wickets.

In her third over, Kapp delivered a further blow when she told Warriorz captain Alyssa Healy to march in. Healy, who hit 13 from 15 balls, attempted to up the tempo, but Shafali executed a beautiful running grab over her shoulder in the vicinity of the circle, and her shot lacked direction and time. In their Powerplay, the Warriorz managed only 21/3, and even Shweat Sherawat's (45 off 43 balls) late surge proved insufficient.

If Kapp was the aggressor in the first few overs, Radha Yadav (4/20), a left-arm orthodox spinner, was the one who came back with a ton of wickets in the last few overs.

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