DC-W vs GG-W

We can barely catch our breath as we wrap up proceedings here. A big game coming up again tomorrow though as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be in action, facing the UP Warriorz at this very venue. Do join us for our coverage of that right here on Sportskeeda with the first ball to be sent down at 7:30 PM IST. For the moment, signing off alongside my dear friend Bala is Sooryanarayanan. Thank you so much for being a part of this riveting ride today. Wishing you a great week ahead - good night and take care!

For the first time in WPL history, the Delhi Capitals have lost their first two matches of the season. And for the first time ever, the Gujarat Giants have won their first two matches of the season. There's always a first for everything, isn't there? This loss is bound to sting the Capitals hard. They've botched up finals in the past but having lost their first two games, they need to pick themselves up quickly now if they are to compete for a spot in the final again. As for the Giants, not many rated them ahead of this season but they have certainly forced a rethink on that front. Their defensive bowling has been impressive, as has their fielding, and these are the small things that go a long way in sealing tight games. Two in two - they sure mean business!

Of course, Sophie Devine is the Player of the Match. Here's what she has to say: Probably just relieved. We knew 210 was a good score but with the batting Delhi had the game was in the balance. To win by four runs, really pleased for this group. These pitches, 200, 220 won't be enough. It's perhaps the wickets we're playing on that you can play your shots and trust the bounce. Playing with Moons at Perth Scorchers, it's nice to have that familiarity at the other end. These wickets are fantastic to bat on. Even the way Lizelle and Wolvaardt batted today, there are going to be some big scores this tournament. I've been lucky I've played for a while now. Just taking each situation as it comes and trying to be level with it. Probably took the pressure off in the last over that they were the favorites. It's just nice to be able to contribute to this group. A new team for me and that's what you want to be able to do whether it's one game or more games.

Ashleigh Gardner (Gujarat Giants captain): One of those games where the game's in the balance pretty much the whole team. 60 off 4 overs, you'd be more comfortable being the bowling side but you know in India with the wickets and the way the batters were hitting, you're kind of never out of it. With 7 needed off the last over, we snatched it. To be honest I felt we were probably 15 short. We were in a fantastic position to score 230 or more. That part was disappointing and we knew their batting has so much firepower. We knew we had to field and bowled well. There were glimpses where we did both really well but like last game, there is so much to learn from. Thankfully we've got two wins. Overseas players make the competition but Indian players win the competition. The domestic Indian players, it's so pleasing to see they're playing their role. Our bowlers did an amazing job, in particular the two left-arm offies. And Anushka, that save - we won by four runs and she saved four runs. Those are the moments you need to try and win.

Jemimah Rodrigues (Delhi Capitals captain): Very proud of the girls, the way they fought back. She (Sophie Devine) put us under a lot of pressure. Nandani and Charani bowled excellently. In the batting also. We needed 15 runs an over at one time. To get into the last over with just 7 runs to win. It's a tough pill to swallow, but lots of positives. Our powerplay bowling (needs to improve). Need to get our plans sorted. It's tough when a player like Sophie Devine is at her best. Such games, you want to finish on the right side. Nandani is one of the top picks this season. She is a captain's delight. One thing DC has done well is to keep a positive environment. These two days off could help us and we will come back stronger.

Anushka Sharma (Gujarat Giants): To be honest, out of words. Fabulous innings by Sophie Devine and Ashley Gardner. I was focusing on what I can do better. Our fielding coach gave us a lot of confidence. It feels surreal that I am playing along with all these great players. I get to learn a lot from my teammates. We were just focusing on what we can do better. It makes a difference when you have a lot of experience in your side.

11:07 PM local time and IST: Gujarat Giants cling on for dear life by 4 runs!

Sophie Devine 95 (42) & 2/21 (3) | Rajeshwari Gayakwad 2/34 (4)
Lizelle Lee 86 (54) | Nandani Sharma 5/33 (4)

BREATHE! How do we even sum this up? The Capitals looked gone for all money despite keeping themselves afloat in the chase. But then, Laura Wolvaardt accelerated at the rate of knots. Yet somehow, they messed up an equation that read 7 needed of 6 thanks to some 'Devine' intervention that got the job done for the Gujarat Giants. Wow!

Sophie Devine set it up with the bat. And she got the job done with the ball too in the final over, with the Capitals' chase set up initially by Lizelle Lee, who took the attack to the bowlers. Mind you, the Giants did a very good job in bowling regular shutdown overs and keeping the asking rate well above 11 an over for a good part of that chase. Shafali Verma departed early as Rajeshwari Gayakwad castled her en route to 2/34 as she sent down a splendid spell of bowling. She and Tanuja Kanwar varied their pace well and also mixed it with yorkers. Lee cashed in on anything in her wheelhouse and raced to a fifty, before powering along in the company of Wolvaardt.

Skipper Ashleigh Gardner didn't bowl enough of herself early on and by the time she returned for her second over, it was the 18th of the match with 48 to defend. A set Wolvaardt took the attack to her even as Lee perished for 86 but Wolvaardt rekindled memories of her World Cup semifinal blitz, going hammer and tongs to peel off 19 off that over. Kashvee Gautam was then taken to the cleaners as Wolvaardt was in a menacing mood with skipper Jemimah Rodrigues doing her bit to bring it down to 7 needed off the last over.

And then came a moment of brainfreeze as Rodrigues went across attempting a scoop with fine leg back. She gloved it to the keeper post which Marizanne Kapp pretty much dead-batted the ball back to Devine. The pressure told on the Capitals and once Wolvaardt went for the big shot and perished off the penultimate ball bowled by Devine, it swung the Giants' way again. Sneh Rana swung as hard as she could off the final ball but the slower one beat her as Devine held her nerve to pull off a jailbreak of the highest order. Rodrigues and the Capitals were left distraught but they have themselves to blame for how they gift-wrapped this one at the death. Phew!

DEVINE INTERVENTION FOR THE GUJARAT GIANTS! First with the bat, then with the ball! And she has defended 7 off the last over to snatch a thriller for the Giants who record their second win of the season. What a match we've witnessed!

19.6 Sophie Devine to Sneh Rana, beaten! Gujarat Giants have done it! Jemimah is distraught! Devine with the bat, Devine with the ball! Full ball outside off. Rana throws her bat at it but makes no contact. 7 runs were needed off the last over, and they lose by 4 runs in the end

Hold your breath folks. This is the equation: 5 runs, 1 ball. A six to win, a four to force a Super Over. Sophie Devine. Sneh Rana. Long on, long off, mid-wicket and square leg are out. Palpable tension everywhere...

19.5 Sophie Devine to Laura Wolvaardt, OUT! It's a Devine effort! Length ball around the off-stump. Wolvaardt goes for her trusted slog over wide long-on but can't time it for once. Miscues it straight to deep mid-wicket

Devine has done a splendid job so far. But Wolvaardt takes strike now. Extra cover drops back, while mid-on and mid-off are back as well. Yorker coming? 5 needed off 2...