Upasana Yadav shone brightly as the North Delhi Strikers claimed the inaugural Women's Delhi Premier League title with a thrilling 10-run victory over the South Delhi Superstarz on Sunday, September 8, at Arun Jaitley Stadium. Yadav made history by smashing the league’s first-ever century, an unbeaten 114 off 67 balls, featuring 18 boundaries and three sixes, powering North Delhi to an imposing 179/3 in their 20 overs.
South Delhi mounted a strong chase, led by Tanisha Singh’s fighting 72 off 40 balls, but ultimately fell short, ending at 169/8. South Delhi’s openers, Chhavi Gupta (20 off 20) and Shweta Sehrawat (13 off 11), got off to a brisk start but were dismissed by the end of the powerplay, with the score at 46/2. Singh anchored the innings, forging a 38-run partnership with Riya Soni, but Soni’s departure in the 11th over left South Delhi at 84/3.
Singh continued to hold the innings together, adding a crucial 60-run stand with Nidhi Mahto, bringing the score to 144/4 in the 17th over. However, Bharti Rawal removed Mahto (15 off 16), and Soni Yadav’s double strike in the 18th over, which saw the dismissals of Singh and R Priyadarshini, left South Delhi struggling at 151/6. Despite a late push from Ekta Bhadana and Manju Godara, who added 15 runs in the 19th over, South Delhi needed 14 from the final six balls. Nazma Sultana bowled a tight last over, taking two key wickets and sealing the victory for North Delhi as South Delhi finished on 169/8.
Earlier, North Delhi lost Mansi Sharma (0 off 5) early, but Yadav anchored the innings with a masterful knock. She formed a steady partnership with Monika, taking North Delhi to 50/1 by the end of the powerplay. Although Monika fell for 19 off 15 in the seventh over, Yadav reached her half-century in 36 balls and later accelerated to a century in just 62 deliveries. Ayushi Soni played a supporting role, scoring 31 off 34, helping North Delhi post an imposing total. South Delhi’s Aarti Kumari was the standout bowler with figures of 2/34.
Upasana Yadav's record-breaking performance secured the North Delhi Strikers' triumph as champions of the Adani Women’s Delhi Premier League T20.