WPL 2026: Sophie Devine’s Heroic Final Over Seals Thrilling Three-Run Victory for GG

It felt like deja vu for Delhi Capitals. On January 11, Sophie Devine defended six in the final over to help Gujarat Giants secure their second win. Sixteen days later, she was once again tasked with defending a small total—eight runs—in the final over in DC’s chase of 175, after conceding 23 in her previous. Devine delivered once again, removing Niki Prasad and Sneh Rana, to give GG a three-run win. It took them to second place on the points table and a big step towards the knockouts in WPL 2026.

Before that dramatic finish, DC had looked dangerous, thanks to late cameos from Prasad and Rana. From 100 for 6, the duo put on 70 off just 31 balls to almost pull off a miracle.

Anushka’s Brisk Start

Anushka Sharma walked in at 1 for 19 after Devine fell to Marizanne Kapp in the third over and, in a brief but decisive stay, wrested momentum from DC. Nervy at first, she soon settled, trusting her bottom hand and playing the ball rather than the bowler. A backfoot punch past mid-off off Nandani Sharma brought her first boundary, followed by a wristy clip through midwicket that underlined her control.

Kapp, with the best powerplay economy in this WPL at under five, bore the brunt in the fifth over as Anushka opened her shoulders for three fours, driving and whipping through square leg with minimal fuss. She struck eight fours in all and looked set for a big score, but after being dropped by Chinelle Henry at mid-off off Shree Charani, she attempted a slog sweep the next ball and was caught by Minnu Mani at deep midwicket for 39, leaving GG 73 for 2 in the ninth over.

Mooney’s First Fifty of the Season

Mooney held the innings with a composed knock. She was 16 off 18 balls when Anushka departed and had managed just one boundary until then. At the halfway stage, GG were 80 for 2. Jemimah Rodrigues’ decision to bowl out Kapp in the 11th over, however, worked in Mooney’s favour as she smashed three fours off her. Having found her rhythm, Mooney hit two more boundaries to backward point to bring up her first fifty of this WPL, off 40 balls. Mooney’s stay was cut short in the 17th over by Nandani’s slower ball.

Gujarat Giants Batting Summary

The innings then unravelled, with GG losing wickets in a cluster between the 15th and 18th overs, including Georgia Wareham, Bharti Fulmali, Kanika Ahuja, and Kashvee Gautam, as Charani struck twice in an over. Just as DC seemed to pull the game back, Tanuja Kanwar—who had missed the previous game—lifted GG to a competitive 174 with an 11-ball 21. She capped it with 15 runs off Henry in the final over, smoking a six over the bowler’s head after hitting two fours. Charani finished as DC’s best bowler, returning figures of 4 for 31.

GG’s Middle-Over Brilliance

DC made a brisk start to the chase, reaching 41 for 1 at the end of five overs. But Devine removed Lizelle Lee off the final ball of the powerplay with a slower delivery. From the seventh over onwards, Kanwar and Ash Gardner bowled tight lines to Laura Wolvaardt and Rodrigues, conceding just 15 runs across three overs.

Although Georgia Wareham was taken for 12 in the tenth, it prompted the captain to bring Devine back—and she struck immediately, rattling Rodrigues’ stumps as the batter attempted a scoop. Two balls later, Gardner removed Kapp, and by the end of 12 overs, DC’s required run rate had climbed to 11.37. Wolvaardt soon fell to Gayakwad, leaving DC 85 for 5, and it became 100 for 6 with 75 needed from 33 balls.

Gujarat Giants Bowling Performance

Prasad, Rana’s Late Fireworks in Vain

Prasad and Rana lifted DC out of nowhere, almost pulling off a win. In a 25-ball 47, 20-year-old Prasad struck nine fours, while Rana added two sixes and three fours to bring the target within reach. From the first ball, Prasad attacked with intent, cutting and lofting past mid-off, short third, and extra cover, including a stunning sequence of three consecutive fours off Devine. Their partnership injected crucial momentum into DC’s chase.

But Devine struck in the final over, removing Rana and Prasad. Despite a tense two-run attempt and frantic running between the wickets, Devine’s slower deliveries and smart field placements saw both batters caught in the deep, allowing GG to hold on for a dramatic win.

Delhi Capitals Batting Summary

Match Statistics

Delhi Capitals Bowling Performance

The Deja Vu Moment for Delhi Capitals

On January 11, Sophie Devine defended six in the final over to help Gujarat Giants secure their second win in WPL 2026. Sixteen days later, on January 27, the scenario repeated itself with Devine tasked with defending eight runs in the final over in DC’s chase of 175. After conceding 23 in her previous over, Devine delivered once again, removing Niki Prasad and Sneh Rana to give GG a three-run win.

The win took them to second place on the points table and a big step towards the knockouts. For Delhi Capitals, it felt like deja vu as Devine denied them victory in the final over for the second time in WPL 2026.

Key Performances in WPL 2026 Match

Beth Mooney’s 58 off 47 balls marked her first fifty of this WPL season. She was 16 off 18 balls when Anushka departed and had managed just one boundary until then. Jemimah Rodrigues’ decision to bowl out Kapp in the 11th over worked in Mooney’s favour as she smashed three fours off her. Having found her rhythm, Mooney hit two more boundaries to backward point to bring up her fifty off 40 balls.

Anushka Sharma’s 39 off 27 balls with eight fours provided the early momentum for GG in WPL 2026. After being dropped by Chinelle Henry at mid-off off Shree Charani, she attempted a slog sweep the next ball and was caught by Minnu Mani at deep midwicket, leaving GG 73 for 2 in the ninth over.

Tanuja Kanwar, who had missed the previous game, lifted GG to a competitive 174 with an 11-ball 21. She capped it with 15 runs off Henry in the final over, smoking a six over the bowler’s head after hitting two fours.

For Delhi Capitals, 20-year-old Niki Prasad struck nine fours in a 25-ball 47, while Sneh Rana added two sixes and three fours in her 15-ball 29. From the first ball, Prasad attacked with intent, cutting and lofting past mid-off, short third, and extra cover, including a stunning sequence of three consecutive fours off Devine.

WPL 2026 Points Table Position

The Final Over Drama

With 75 needed from 33 balls when DC were 100 for 6, Prasad and Rana lifted DC out of nowhere with their 70-run partnership off just 31 balls. The equation came down to eight runs needed off the final over bowled by Sophie Devine, who had conceded 23 in her previous over.

Despite a tense two-run attempt and frantic running between the wickets, Devine’s slower deliveries and smart field placements saw both Rana and Prasad caught in the deep, allowing GG to hold on for a dramatic three-run win in WPL 2026.

Sophie Devine’s All-Round Performance

Sophie Devine was named Player of the Match for her all-round performance—scoring 13 off 10 balls and taking 4 for 37 with the ball. She removed Lizelle Lee off the final ball of the powerplay with a slower delivery, then struck immediately when brought back, rattling Jemimah Rodrigues’ stumps as the batter attempted a scoop.

In the final over, after conceding 23 in her previous, Devine held her nerve to defend eight runs, removing both Rana and Prasad to secure victory for GG in WPL 2026.

Middle-Overs Control by GG

From the seventh over onwards, Tanuja Kanwar and Ash Gardner bowled tight lines to Laura Wolvaardt and Jemimah Rodrigues, conceding just 15 runs across three overs. Although Georgia Wareham was taken for 12 in the tenth, it prompted the captain to bring Devine back.

Devine struck immediately, rattling Rodrigues’ stumps as the batter attempted a scoop. Two balls later, Gardner removed Kapp, and by the end of 12 overs, DC’s required run rate had climbed to 11.37. Wolvaardt soon fell to Rajeshwari Gayakwad, leaving DC 85 for 5, and it became 100 for 6 with 75 needed from 33 balls.

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