Gujarat Giants Secure Narrow Win Against Delhi Capitals in WPL Thriller

Gujarat Giants Triumph in a Nail-Biting Finish

Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 11: In a gripping encounter at the Women’s Premier League (WPL), Gujarat Giants (GG) emerged victorious over Delhi Capitals on Sunday, clinching the match by a mere four runs.

With seven runs needed in the final over, Sophie Devine showcased her skills by conceding only two runs and taking two crucial wickets, securing the win for GG.

The match appeared to slip away from Gujarat when Delhi scored 41 runs in the 18th and 19th overs, but Devine's remarkable performance turned the tide in favor of her team.

Delhi Capitals began their chase of 210 with Lizelle Lee and Shafali Verma at the crease. They started strong, reaching 40 runs in just five overs, but Verma was dismissed shortly after by Rajeshwari Gayakwad for 14 runs.

Lee and Laura Wolvaardt then built a solid partnership, adding 90 runs for the second wicket until Kashvee Gautam dismissed Lee, who scored an impressive 86 runs off 54 balls, featuring 12 fours and three sixes.

Despite the increasing required run rate, Lee kept the chase alive with her aggressive batting.

Chinelle Henry also fell early, scoring just seven runs. Wolvaardt and captain Jemimah Rodrigues then contributed significantly, with Wolvaardt initially slow but accelerating in the 18th over, scoring 41 runs in just two overs alongside Jemimah.

However, it was Devine's exceptional final over that shifted the momentum, allowing only two runs.

Earlier in the match, Nandni Sharma, a young right-arm fast-medium bowler, delivered a stunning final over, achieving a hat-trick and finishing with five wickets as Delhi Capitals bowled out Gujarat Giants for 209 runs.

At one point, Gujarat seemed poised for a larger total, but a dramatic collapse, spurred by Nandni's brilliance, kept Delhi in contention. The Giants lost their rhythm after a strong start.

Gujarat's openers, Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine, set a solid foundation with a 94-run partnership, reaching 50 runs in just 5.1 overs and 80 without loss in six overs, putting pressure on Delhi.

Devine was the star of the innings, scoring 95 runs off 42 balls, including seven fours and eight sixes.

She notably hit Sneh Rana for 32 runs in a single over, marking the most expensive over in WPL history. Devine reached her half-century in just 25 balls but was eventually dismissed by Nandni Sharma in the 10.4 overs. Mooney was the first wicket to fall, scoring 19 runs before being dismissed by Shree Charani.

After Devine's exit, Gujarat lost wickets consistently. Georgia Wareham scored only 3 runs before being dismissed by Shree Charani, while Anushka Sharma managed 13 runs before falling to Shafali Verma. Bharti Fulmali also struggled, scoring just 3 runs off Chinelle Henry.

Gujarat's captain, Ashleigh Gardner, played a quick innings but fell just short of a half-century, scoring 49 runs off 26 balls, including four fours and three sixes, before being dismissed by Chinelle Henry, who took her second wicket of the match.

The final over dramatically altered the match's dynamics, with Nandni Sharma taking four wickets, starting with Kashvee Gautam, followed by Kanika Ahuja, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, and Renuka Singh in consecutive deliveries, completing a memorable hat-trick on the last ball and finishing with five wickets.

Chinelle Henry recorded figures of 2/43, while Shree Charani also took two wickets, conceding 42 runs. Shafali Verma contributed with one wicket.