GG-W vs DC-W

11:40 PM local time and IST: Phew! What a game this was! Vadodara is giving us quite a few thrillers this week! So, this win means that Gujarat Giants move to second in the points table with 8 points. As for Delhi Capitals, after 7 games, they are on 6 points. So both sides have one match left. Neither, have qualified yet for the playoffs. The action now shifts to Match 18, in which UP Warriorz take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru from 7:30 PM local time on Thursday, 29 January. This is Pradeep and Bidipto, taking your leave. Keep following Sportskeeda! 

Sophie Devine (Player of the Match, 4/37 off 4 overs, defending 9 runs off the last over by giving away only 5 runs, taking 2 wickets): "I have to give it to Ash, for giving me something to bowl in the last over. I got a chance to make up for my poor over. As an overseas player, it is important to set aside the ego. The local players are only getting better. For us now, it is about staying fresh and focused. Anushka is a tremendous talent! Rajeshwari I feel deserves this award, along with Beth Mooney too! And these collective efforts are the ones that define our team in this campaign!"

Ashleigh Gardner [Gujarat Giants captain]: "It's obviously a bit of a roller-coaster! So, this was pure entertainment! But, we won, so, we're happy. The wickets have got progressively better in the last couple of games. I think anything between 170 and 180 was par. We bowled really well for the first 10 to 12 overs, but then, almost let it slip! We kept it simple, and our spinners made matters really easy. We've had a couple of close matches in which we've ended up on the winning side, so, we definitely had the moment to celebrate! But, in a couple of days, it is Mumbai Indians, whom we don't have a great record against. So, we have to focus on that one now!" 

Anushka Sharma [Gujarat Giants]: "(On emotions after the tense finish) I’m honestly out of words. It was another nail-biting finish against DC. Full credit to Sophie and the catching effort in the field — that made a huge difference. Those moments turned the game in our favour. (On losing and regaining control of the match)When they were four or five wickets down, we genuinely felt we had the game under control. But the way Niki batted was outstanding — she almost took the match away from us. In the end, though, we managed to hold on, and getting the win is what matters most. (On her own batting performance) The best is still to come. The wicket was good to bat on and I did enjoy my time out there, but I don’t think I did justice to it. I could have done better, and that’s something I’ll keep working on. (On her batting approach going forward) There’s nothing specific I’m changing. I’ll continue to play with the same intent, back my strengths, and take the game on when the opportunity presents itself. (On her fitness) The wrist is fine now. There was a bit of pain at the time after the dive, but it’s settled down. The result certainly makes it feel much better."

Jemimah Rodrigues [Delhi Capitals captain]: "(On the late surge and emotions after the game) The way Sneh Rana and Niki played was outstanding — full credit to both of them. They kept fighting till the very end, brought the game incredibly close, and gave us real hope. It would have been special to cross the line, but that kind of finish is part of the game. (On believing during the chase) As long as our batters were in, we believed there was still a chance. More importantly, they believed in themselves. The way they stayed composed and kept pushing, especially Niki as a youngster and Rana with her experience, was really impressive. (On the atmosphere in the dugout) It was electric. Those boundaries kept everyone going and kept belief alive in the dugout. Even though we didn’t get the result, the effort they put in was exceptional. (On what went wrong overall) We actually did a lot right. With the ball, it was really just the last few overs where we leaked a few extra runs — probably 15 to 20 more than we would’ve liked. With the bat, we needed stronger partnerships from the top order, myself included. That’s where it didn’t quite click. (On the road ahead) The next game is crucial. We’ve got a short break now, which gives us time to regroup and reset. We’re still very much in this tournament, and we’ll keep fighting right till the end."

11:13 PM local time and IST: Gujarat Giants win by 3 runs! 

Beth Mooney 58 (46) | Sophie Devine - 4/37 (4)
Niki Prasad 47 (24) | Nallapureddy Charani - 4/31 (4)

Delhi Capitals are still to win a match in WPL history, chasing more than 170 runs. But, for the first time ever, they have been beaten twice in one season by one team - Gujarat Giants! 

The defeat was very much on the cards, after the Capitals were 100/6 in 14.3 overs. But at that point, the only thing everyone thought, in favour of the Capitals, was if they could bat the 20 overs out not to damage the net run rate a whole lot.

However, what happened after that, was nothing short of breathtaking! Young Niki Prasad, and more-than-handy batter Sneh Rana, smashed 70 runs in 30 balls, and brought it down to 5 runs from 4 balls! 

While Niki score 47 whirlwind runs, Sneh got stuck into the bowling, smashing 3 fours and 2 sixes, en route her 29.

But how good was that last over from Sophie Devine! She had to defend 9 runs, she gave away only 5! That was top notch, given the fact that she was plundered 23 runs in the 17th over! 

Before that though, some big names with bat in hand, chose some strange and risky shots to play, and lost their wickets, one after another. The dismissal of Laura Wolvaardt - trying to sweep a slow delivery from Rajeshwari Gayakwad, rather poorly - was an epitome of bad shot selection in the innings! 

Rajeshwari was simply outstanding with her slow, left-arm orthodox deliveries, picking up 3 key wickets, and so was fellow left-arm spinner Tanuja Kanwar, who gave away only 26 runs in her 4 overs. 

But, what matters is a win, and at this stage of the tournament, the Giants will be mighty pleased with the points, even though, they almost slipped away from their hands! 

19.6 Sophie Devine to Niki Prasad, OUT! HOLES OUT AT LONG-ON AND IT'S HEARTBREAK FOR NIKI! DEVINE DOES IT AGAIN FOR GIANTS! Devine holds on to her nerve, agony for DC. After Niki and Rana pulling so close, they fell short right at the end. What a cliffhanger we've just had, WPL keeps on giving. Back of a length, angling into the batter as Niki backed away, lifts it straight down the throat of Gardner who makes no mistake. Two crucial points for GG and they move up the ladder on the points table.

19.5 Sophie Devine to Minnu Mani, back of a length on the off-stump, Mani swipes it to deep mid-wicket for just a single. Niki needs to hit a boundary of the final ball.

19.4 Sophie Devine to Sneh Rana, OUT! PICKED OUT WAREHAM! Absolute cinema this as they say, Devine has Giants hanging by a thread here. Back of a length on the off-stump, Rana down the wicket, pulled it to deep mid-wicket but finds the fielder. Went straight down the throat of Wareham who makes no mistake.