In a thrilling Women’s Premier League 2026 encounter at BCA Stadium in Vadodara, Delhi Capitals secured a commanding seven-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians on Tuesday. However, the post-match headlines shifted focus to their explosive opener Lizelle Lee, who faced a 10% match fee deduction for breaching the code of conduct.
Lee had lit up the innings with a fiery 46 off just 28 balls, smashing seven fours and a six, putting her on the brink of a half-century. But her dismissal in the 11th over via a stumping—confirmed after a lengthy third-umpire review—sparked controversy. Replays showed her bat lifting momentarily from the crease as keeper Rahira Firdous whipped the bails off, leaving Lee visibly frustrated.
The frustration boiled over as Lee engaged in a heated exchange with on-field umpire Vrinda Rathi following the five-minute review verdict. This led to a Level 1 offence under Article 2.2 of the code of conduct, which she accepted, resulting in the fine and a demerit point on her record.
The official WPL press release confirmed, ‘Lee accepted the Level 1 breach. The match referee’s decision is final and binding.’ Despite the setback, Delhi chased down Mumbai’s 154/5 in 19 overs, showcasing their depth.
The South African star, bought for her base price of 30 lakh rupees, has been a revelation for Delhi Capitals. In five matches this season, she’s amassed 213 runs at an average of 42.60, with 30 fours and seven sixes, placing her third in the run-scor charts. This incident serves as a reminder of the fine line between passion and discipline in high-stakes cricket.