Gujarat Giants’ powerful batting lineup outshone Delhi Capitals’ all-international bowling attack, overcoming their own fielding lapses to secure a thrilling victory and edge closer to their first-ever Women’s Premier League playoff qualification. Chasing a challenging 178, Beth Mooney, Harleen Deol, and Deandra Dottin orchestrated a remarkable finish, amassing 103 runs in the final 10 overs to seal a five-wicket win with three balls to spare.
By toppling the table-toppers, who had already secured a playoff spot, the Giants leapfrogged Mumbai Indians to claim second place, thanks to a superior net run rate. However, MI still have two games remaining compared to the Giants’ one. The victory also eliminated UP Warriorz from playoff contention. Giants and MI will now battle in a crucial penultimate league match on March 10 in Mumbai.
The chase was anchored by Mooney’s steady 44, Deol’s brilliantly paced unbeaten 70 off 49 balls, and Dottin’s explosive 24 off 10. Kashvee Gautam then delivered the finishing touch, stepping up when 13 were needed from the final seven balls.
Their collective efforts overshadowed a classy 92 off 57 balls from Meg Lanning, whose knock—laced with 15 fours—went in vain despite being given two reprieves by the Giants.
Mooney and Deol Anchor Giants’ Chase
Gujarat Giants, not known for explosive starts, stuck to their steady approach even in a challenging chase. At 15 for 1 after four overs, Beth Mooney and Harleen Deol focused on stability following the early dismissal of D Hemalatha, who continued her rough patch. Mooney kept the scoreboard ticking with well-placed shots over the infield, while Deol found her rhythm in the fifth over, striking two boundaries in a 13-run over. She carried that momentum forward, capitalizing on Annabel Sutherland’s pace to push the run rate past six by the end of the powerplay.
With the required rate at ten an over, Giants had a steep task ahead. Mooney pushed Deol to run hard between the wickets, and their intent was clear when they smashed four boundaries in the space of seven balls just before the halfway mark, keeping the chase alive. Delhi Capitals’ fielding woes also played a part—Deol, on 27, got a reprieve when she lofted Jess Jonassen down the ground, only for Shafali Verma to spill a crucial chance at long-off, a moment that ultimately proved costly for the Capitals.
Power-Hitters Take Charge as Giants Seal the Win
Gujarat Giants suffered a setback when Beth Mooney holed out to Annabel Sutherland at long-off off Minnu Mani in the 12th over. However, that only meant Delhi Capitals now had to contain Giants’ big hitters—a task they failed to accomplish. Ashleigh Gardner wasted no time, getting off the mark with a boundary before launching a stunning straight six off Marizanne Kapp, reducing the equation to 73 off 43, which quickly shrank to 66 off 36.
Harleen Deol got a second life on 45 when Sutherland couldn’t hold onto a return catch. Gardner then capitalized on the momentum, smashing a Sutherland slower ball over midwicket for another six. Deol reached her first WPL fifty since 2023 off 38 balls with a crisp boundary to point. Though Gardner departed for 22, Deandra Dottin and Deol fired back-to-back sixes, bringing the equation down to 36 off 23.
The Capitals’ bowlers tried everything—taking pace off, bringing back Jess Jonassen—but nothing worked. Dottin took Jonassen apart with a flurry of shots, hammering a four, six, and another four to bring the target to just 16 off 14.
Just when Delhi saw a glimmer of hope with Jonassen dismissing both Dottin and Phoebe Litchfield in the same over, Shikha Pandey followed up with a tight 19th over, conceding only two runs off the first five balls. But Kashvee Gautam had the final say, smashing a length delivery over wide long-on before Deol struck a four. Gautam then sealed the thrilling chase with the winning runs.
Lanning and Shafali Extend Their Record Partnership
Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma took a few early risks but managed to keep the scoreboard ticking. Lanning’s first scoring shot was a thick edge off an outswinger that raced to the boundary, while Shafali’s lofted drive narrowly evaded a sprinting mid-on for four in the following over. While Lanning found her rhythm quickly, Shafali took her time, yet the duo reached their 12th WPL half-century stand—the most by any pair in the tournament.
Lanning capitalized on the Giants’ full-length deliveries, driving elegantly on both sides of the wicket. Shafali had a lucky escape on 15 when Tanuja Kanwar put down a tough return catch in the sixth over despite a full-length dive. She grew in confidence after the powerplay, launching two sixes, but her innings ended at 40 off 37 when she mistimed a shot to deep midwicket, where Phoebe Litchfield took a well-judged catch.
Lanning’s Brilliance Keeps Capitals in the Fight
Meg Lanning delivered yet another masterclass, capitalizing on Gujarat Giants’ errors while displaying her trademark elegance. She struck seven boundaries in the powerplay and continued to make Giants pay for their lapses. At the other end, Shafali Verma’s dismissal was quickly followed by Jess Jonassen’s, who fell to a pinpoint yorker from Deandra Dottin after narrowly surviving a stumping chance.
Lanning had her own stroke of luck when Harleen Deol nearly pulled off a stunning catch at mid-off in the 12th over. Deol leaped high, juggled the ball between both hands, and momentarily secured it before landing on her elbows, causing it to pop out. Lanning made the most of the reprieve, reaching a 34-ball half-century in style with a sublime inside-out six over covers.
Giants’ sloppiness persisted. Soon after Jemimah Rodrigues departed for 4, Lanning escaped a run-out on 63 due to a mix-up with Annabel Sutherland. A wayward throw and Priya Mishra’s failure to collect the ball let her off the hook. She responded by taking Tanuja Kanwar and Dottin apart in the death overs, smashing four boundaries in quick succession.
On 92 with two balls left in the innings, Lanning had a chance to become the WPL’s first centurion but was undone by a well-disguised leg cutter from Dottin. Sarah Bryce finished the innings with a six, giving Delhi a competitive total—but it ultimately wasn’t enough.
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