The Gujarat Giants solidified their postseason credentials by clinching a three-run thriller against the Delhi Capitals in Match 17. Held at Vadodara’s BCA Stadium, this narrow victory allowed Gujarat to leapfrog into second place on the TATA WPL 2026 leaderboard. By holding their nerve in the final moments, the Giants successfully completed a season double over Delhi, proving their dominance in this specific rivalry.
Giants Set a Competitive Target
After winning the toss, the Delhi Capitals opted to bowl first, a decision that initially seemed to pay dividends when Marizanne Kapp dismissed the dangerous Sophie Devine for 13 in the early stages of the match. However, the Gujarat Giants quickly regained their footing through a composed and authoritative innings from their captain, Beth Mooney.
Mooney played a classic anchor role, scoring a vital 58 runs off 46 deliveries, a knock that included seven boundaries. She found an aggressive partner in Anushka Sharma, who played a blistering cameo of 39 runs from just 25 balls, peppered with eight fours. Together, they stitched a 54-run partnership that looked set to take the Giants toward a massive total.
The momentum shifted back toward the Capitals during the middle overs as their bowling attack sparked a sudden collapse. Left-arm spinner Sree Charani was the architect of this comeback, finishing with spectacular figures of 4 for 31. She tore through the middle order, dismissing Anushka Sharma, Georgia Wareham, Kanika Ahuja, and Kashvee Gautam. Just as the Giants seemed to be stalling at 151/8, Tanuja Kanwar stepped up. Her late-innings fireworks—an 11-ball 21 featuring three fours and a six—pushed the total to a competitive 174/9.
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Delhi’s Middle-Order Slump
The Delhi Capitals’ chase began with intent as Shafali Verma found the boundary early, but her stay was cut short by Rajeshwari Gayakwad for 14. What followed was a disciplined bowling display from the Giants that systematically dismantled the Capitals’ top and middle order.
Rajeshwari Gayakwad was clinical, finishing her four overs with figures of 3 for 20. She claimed the crucial wickets of Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, and the dangerous Laura Wolvaardt, leaving the Capitals reeling at 100/6. At this stage, the Giants appeared to be in complete control, with the required run rate climbing and the Capitals’ recognized batters back in the pavilion.
The Prasad-Rana Counter-Attack
Just as the game seemed to be slipping away from Delhi, Niki Prasad and Sneh Rana orchestrated one of the most remarkable fightbacks of the tournament. The duo unleashed a ferocious assault on the Giants’ bowlers, particularly in the 17th over against Sophie Devine, where they plundered 23 runs.
Prasad was the aggressor-in-chief, smashing 47 runs off just 24 balls, while Sneh Rana provided crucial support with 29 runs off 15 deliveries. Their 70-run partnership for the seventh wicket came off only 31 balls, turning a certain defeat into a nail-biting finish. By the time the final over arrived, Delhi required only nine runs to secure an improbable victory.
Devine’s Final Over Redemption
Captain Ashleigh Gardner made the high-stakes decision to entrust the final over to Sophie Devine, despite her earlier expensive overs. It was a gamble that ultimately secured the match. Drawing on years of international experience, Devine maintained her composure under immense pressure.
She began the over by dismissing Sneh Rana, who was caught by Gardner, and followed it up by removing the well-set Niki Prasad on the final delivery. Devine conceded only five runs in the over, finishing with match-winning figures of 4 for 37. Her ability to keep her nerve in the dying moments earned her the Player of the Match award, though she was quick to credit her teammates Beth Mooney and Rajeshwari Gayakwad for their pivotal contributions. This three-run win solidified Gujarat’s status as title contenders, leaving the Capitals to reflect on a missed opportunity in a season where every delivery counts.