Shafali Verma starred with the bat in Delhi Capitals’ thumping 10-wicket victory over Gujarat Giants in Match 9 of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023 at DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday (March 11).

Chasing 106 to win, DC got over the line in just 7.1 overs with Shafali smashing 76 not out off just 28 balls. Her knock was studded with 10 fours and 5 sixes.

After the game, DC skipper Meg Lanning described Shafali’s knock as one of the best she has ever seen.

“It was some of the best hitting I’ve seen. I said just keep it simple. Stay still and hit the ball straight. I’m still to get over it,” Lanning said after her team’s emphatic victory.

“That was a pretty cool show to watch from the other end. I was just cheerleading from the other end. It seemed like a new ball wicket.

“We just had to make sure what we had to do. Shafali didn’t make it look very difficult. Those sort of chases can be tricky if you go into a shell,” she added.

Earlier, DC rode on pace-bowling allrounder Marizanne Kapp’s five-wicket haul (5/15) to restrict Gujarat Giants to 105.

“Kapp’s natural length is one that works on a wicket like this. She was excellent today, I love watching her bowl. She was frustrated with her performances so far — she shouldn’t have been,” Lanning said.

This was Shafali’s second fifty in four matches in the inaugural WPL. In their WPL opener, the swashbuckling opener looked set for a century but got out after scoring 84 off 45 balls).

“I got out while playing flick in the last match, so I tried to play straight tonight,” Shafali said.

“I wasn’t in a hurry, but I was trying to give my best during the run chase. Now we can rest and enjoy ourselves.

“I would like to thank Lanning for her advice. I want to work hard in future and keep scoring and playing in the same way.

“We (openers) tried to give our best for the team, and we managed to do so. We backed ourselves during the chase, kept talking to each other, and you know such small things matter as a player,” Shafali added.

(With PTI Inputs)