GG beat DC on last ball in 414-run thriller
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 has been living up to its promise of delivering high-octane matches, and the latest encounter between Gujarat Giants (GG) and Delhi Capitals (DC) was no exception. In a thrilling match that saw a total of 414 runs, GG emerged victorious by a narrow margin of four runs. The match, played at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday, will be remembered for its dramatic finish, with DC failing to score the required five runs on the last ball.
GG, who were put in to bat first, got off to a flying start, courtesy of a blistering innings from Sophie Devine. The New Zealand cricketer, known for her aggressive batting style, smashed 95 runs off just 42 balls, taking the GG innings by storm. Her knock included 12 fours and 3 sixes, as she tore into the DC bowling attack with ease. Devine’s innings was the perfect blend of power and finesse, as she played some exquisite shots all around the ground.
However, DC’s Nandini Sharma was the pick of the bowlers, picking up five wickets for 36 runs in her four overs. Sharma’s spell was the only bright spot in an otherwise forgettable outing for the DC bowlers, who were taken to the cleaners by the GG batsmen. Despite Sharma’s best efforts, GG managed to post a competitive total of 209 runs in their 20 overs.
The DC innings got off to a similar start, with their openers, Shafali Verma and Alice Capsey, playing some aggressive shots to take the score to 50 in just 5 overs. However, the introduction of GG’s spinners, Ashleigh Gardner and Sneh Rana, slowed down the DC innings, as they picked up a few quick wickets to put the pressure back on the batting side.
Despite the loss of a few wickets, DC’s middle order, led by captain Jemimah Rodrigues, kept the innings going, playing some sensible cricket to take the score past 150. However, the GG bowlers, led by Gardner and Rana, continued to pose problems for the DC batsmen, picking up wickets at regular intervals to keep the pressure on.
As the match entered its final stages, DC required 20 runs off the last two overs, with five wickets in hand. The equation was simple – score the required runs and win the match, or fall short and lose. The DC batsmen, however, were up for the challenge, playing some big shots to take the score to within striking distance of the target.
The last over, bowled by GG’s Tanuja Kanwar, was a nail-biting affair, with DC requiring five runs to win the match. The first four balls of the over yielded just two runs, leaving DC requiring three runs off the last two balls. The fifth ball of the over was a dot, leaving DC requiring three runs off the last ball to win the match.
The last ball of the over was a full toss, which was hit by the DC batsman, Arundhati Reddy, to the mid-wicket fielder. The fielder, GG’s Harleen Deol, picked up the ball and threw it back to the keeper, who whipped off the bails to run out the DC batsman, Reddy. The umpires referred the decision to the third umpire, who confirmed that Reddy was indeed run out, ending the DC innings and sealing the win for GG.
The win was a thrilling one for GG, who would be delighted to have come out on top in such a high-scoring match. The team’s batting and bowling units both performed well, with Devine’s innings and Sharma’s spell being the standout performances of the match. For DC, the loss would be a tough one to swallow, as they came so close to winning the match, only to fall short in the end.
The WPL 2026 has been a revelation so far, with all the teams performing well and the matches being closely contested. The league has provided a platform for the women cricketers to showcase their skills, and the response from the fans has been overwhelming. As the league progresses, we can expect more such thrilling matches, with the teams giving it their all to win the coveted title.
In conclusion, the match between GG and DC was a thrilling encounter, with both teams giving it their all to win the match. The dramatic finish, which saw DC fall short by just four runs, will be remembered for a long time, and the match will go down in history as one of the most exciting matches of the WPL 2026.
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