Navi Mumbai, Jan 14 (NationPress) Captain Meg Lanning commended her bowlers for extending the match to the very last ball after the Delhi Capitals edged out the UP Warriorz by seven wickets in Navi Mumbai. Lizelle Lee’s impressive 67 runs, complemented by Shafali Verma’s all-round contribution of 36, set the stage for Delhi Capitals’ inaugural victory under captain Jemimah Rodrigues, overcoming yet another nail-biting finish. Lanning recognized the Delhi Capitals’ clever execution of slower deliveries while praising her team’s determination to compete until the end.

"I thought our bowlers did an outstanding job to pull it back and take the match down to the final ball. Batting first became increasingly difficult, particularly as the pace of the ball was reduced. We learned that from the way the Delhi Capitals bowled, and I felt they executed their strategy exceptionally well. We always believed we were in contention if we bowled effectively, and the team deserves immense credit for their perseverance until the very end," stated UP Warriorz captain Meg Lanning.

Lanning, who lost the toss, led her team with a solid 54 runs, while Harleen Deol added 47 runs off 36 balls. Although the UP captain was pleased with her contribution, she expressed a desire to have batted longer, hoping to build on her innings in forthcoming matches.

"It was personally rewarding to score some runs and make a contribution. I would have liked to extend my innings, but it’s always gratifying to put a score on the board for the team. I hope to have more opportunities like this in the future," she remarked.

UP Warriorz’ head coach Abhishek Nayar faced criticism for retiring Deol after the 17th over, a decision that backfired dramatically as UP suffered a significant collapse thereafter, lacking the momentum to post a competitive score. Lanning explained the rationale behind Deol’s retirement, indicating that it was intended to maximize the death overs, and while it didn’t work out, she still believed it was in the team's best interest.

"There was definitely a strategy behind Deol’s retirement. With the death overs approaching, we thought it crucial to capitalize on that phase. Deol was batting well, but it was becoming increasingly challenging, and we felt she had become somewhat stagnant towards the end—something I also experienced. These decisions are always made with the team’s best interests at heart. I stand by it—while it didn’t pan out today, sometimes it does, and other times it doesn’t," she explained.

She clarified that Deandra Dottin’s absence was a strategic decision based on specific match-ups, feeling that Chloe Tryon performed her role effectively in her debut WPL match.

"Deandra Dottin's absence was purely tactical. We believed Chloe Tryon was a favorable match-up against one of Delhi’s batters, and I thought she executed her role well during her first WPL game. That was the balance we deemed most suitable for this match," Lanning concluded.

Lanning emphasized the need to quickly move forward, acknowledging the positives from the performance and expressing enthusiasm for the upcoming challenge against a formidable Mumbai Indians team.

"There’s little time to reflect on this with another match on the horizon, and that’s probably beneficial. We have numerous positives to take from tonight, alongside areas we recognize need improvement. We’ll draw confidence from how we concluded the game and look ahead to tomorrow against the Mumbai Indians, who boast world-class players. We’re genuinely excited for that challenge."