In the 17th game of the 2026 Women’s Premier League, the Gujarat Giants Women (GG-W) barely squeaked out a win against the Delhi Capitals Women (DC-W), winning by just three runs. It was a close one at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on January 27! Sophie Devine was the star of the show, earning Player of the Match for her all-around killer performance. This match really showed how much the WPL is heating up with talent and competition.

Delhi Capitals chose to bowl first, after winning the toss. Gujarat Giants managed to put up a solid 174/9 in their 20 overs, thanks to Beth Mooney’s steady 58 and Anushka Sharma’s quick 39. The real drama came down to the last over, where Devine kept DC from scoring eight runs, sealing the win.

How Gujarat Giants Women Did with the Bat

The Gujarat Giants Women started out swinging hard, but they lost a few quick wickets early on. Even though Sophie Devine got out early for just 13 runs, her energy set the stage for how well she’d bowl later. Anushka Sharma’s fast 39 off 25 balls gave the innings energy, which let Mooney lock down her first fifty this season.

Beth Mooney’s fifty, which took her 40 balls and included seven 4s, added stability when wickets were falling. The middle order had a rough time, though; the DC bowlers grabbed wickets in bunches, with Shree Charani taking four big ones. The tail-enders, especially Tanuja Kanwar, made sure they got over 170 runs, giving GG a total of 174 to defend. Renuka Singh hung in there with 3 not out off 4 balls, helping Kanwar out at the end.

GG-W’s batting was a good mix of going for it and being smart, trying to score runs while also trying not to lose wickets too fast. The way the team bounced back from a mid-innings collapse really showed what they were made of.

Delhi Capitals Women Chase – So Close!

The Delhi Capitals Women started their chase aggressively, with Shafali Verma and Lizelle Lee leading the charge. But, when Lee (11) and Verma (14) got out early the scoring slowed down. Even with some contributions from Laura Wolvaardt (24) and Jemimah Rodrigues (16), DC struggled to keep the momentum going, losing wickets at regular intervals.

The craziest part was when Niki Prasad and Sneh Rana put together a 70-run partnership in just 31 balls. Prasad’s 47 off 24 and Rana’s 29 off 15 were full of big hits, pulling DC super close to winning. The duo’s effort added a ton of pressure on GG.

But Sophie Devine’s smarts in the final over changed everything. She used slower balls, set the field well, and mixed things up, getting both Prasad and Rana out and winning the game for GG by three runs. Her ability to stay cool under pressure showed why Devine is one of the best all-rounders in women’s cricket.

Top Performers

Sophie Devine stood out, doing great with both bat and ball. Yeah, she only scored 13 runs, but her final over and her 4/37 with the ball made all the difference. Beth Mooney’s fifty was her first of the WPL season and gave GG a base to get to 174. Anushka Sharma’s quick 39 also suggests she can score faster in the middle overs when needed.

For Delhi Capitals, Niki Prasad and Sneh Rana were amazing at the end, almost stealing the win. Prasad’s hitting and Rana’s sixes showed that DC’s batting lineup is getting deeper. Marizanne Kapp bowled economically in the powerplay, even though she couldn’t stop GG from reaching a competitive total.

This game also showed how valuable all-rounders like Ashleigh Gardner are. Her tight bowling in the middle overs allowed GG to keep things under control during the chase. Shree Charani taking 4 wickets was a big deal, showing she can get wickets when it counts.

Controversial Moments

The game had some interesting strategic and controversial moments. Early on, Nandani Sharma dropped Anushka Sharma, which hurt them since Anushka started hitting a lot of boundaries before getting out. The final over saw Devine use clever fields and slower balls, which was pretty key in DC’s near-miss.

DC also gave up a bunch of extras, with 14 wides! This added pressure in the final overs. Choosing to bowl first after winning the toss led some people to wonder if it had been the right move. But the close score tells how those decisions played a part.

Tactics and Strategy

GG’s plan to hit hard in the powerplay and target certain bowlers worked out well. Plus, building partnerships at different points helped them get a good defendable total. Devine’s role as a bowler and finisher in tough spots showed how adaptable and good she is as a leader.

DC’s idea of going for it early in the chase worked at first. But they ran into trouble when GG bowled well at the end. It all came down to staying calm, as the early wickets, combined with the pressure, made for a tough game.

Stat Highlights

There were some great performances. Beth Mooney’s 58 and Anushka Sharma’s 39 were the best for GG-W, and Niki Prasad scored 47 for DC-W. Devine’s 4/37 were the best bowling figures, as Rajeshwari Gayakwad took 3/20 for support.

Gujarat Giants Women scored at an average clip of 8.70 per over, whereas DC Women’s was 8.55 which shows that it was a high scoring competitive game. The partnerships and back and forth kept everyone amazed!

Looking Ahead

The Gujarat Giants Women should be strong contenders for the WPL knockout stages. Sophie Devine’s consistent form and Beth Mooney’s batting will be keys to their consistency. Anushka Sharma should also play big in the upcoming matches with her scoring rate.

For the Delhi Capitals Women, the partnership between Niki Prasad and Sneh Rana shows what they can do. Players like Laura Wolvaardt and Shafali Verma might need to be consistent earlier on so that the rest can attack if they need to chase down the score..

Future matches between GG-W and DC-W are likely to depend on death-over strategy, field placements, and how well Devine and Gardner play.

My Thoughts

This match perfectly sums up what makes T20 cricket so exciting. GG’s ability to hang in there to win, even after losing those wickets, reflects how durable they are. Also, Devine proved how valuable she is!

Delhi Capitals almost had an amazing chase, as the knock from Prasad and Rana might be remembered. Close games show what minor details can influence outcomes.

The excitement and greatness sets the tone for the rest of the season. Fans should assume exciting moments are to come!

In Conclusion

Gujarat Giants Women edged out Delhi Capitals Women by just three runs. Sophie Devine stood out, while not forgetting the efforts from Beth and Anushka. Despite the loss, Delhi was a force to be reckoned with. But the playoffs are coming and teams will fight each other in terms of composure, skill, and strategy.