In a match of wildly fluctuating fortunes, Sophie Devine’s 42-ball 95 and a clutch last over proved decisive for Gujarat Giants as Delhi Capitals lose a thriller by 4 runs Posting back-to-back 200-plus scores in Navi Mumbai, Gujarat Giants have started the 2026 Women’s Premier League edition with two wins in a row, riding on a sensational all-round performance by New Zealand veteran Sophie Devine. For Jemimah Rodrigues’ Delhi Capitals, it is two defeats in as many days, and this one would sting more as they nearly completed a record run-chase, needing just 7 runs off the last over to overhaul 210, but managed to score just two. Lizelle Lee’s 86 and Laura Wolvaardt’s 77 were superb knocks but DC couldn’t cross the finish line. Tale of two last overs GG looked set to score well over 230 but after captain Ash Gardner got out on the last ball of the 18th over, they couldn’t capitalise in the last two. From 201/6, they scored just 8 more runs and lost four wickets in the last over as Nandni Sharma announced her arrival in the WPL. The medium pacer from Chandigarh was smashed for two fours by a marauding Devine off the first two balls she bowled and a six later in that over. But she accounted for Devine in her second over with a clever back-of-the-hand slower delivery. She wasn’t done though. In the 20th over, she picked up the wickets of Kashvee Gautam, Kanika Ahuja, Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Renuka Singh Thakur – the last three coming on the last three balls for a hat-trick and five-for. If Nandni’s 5/33 restricted GG to 209, Devine’s 2-run last over was the match-winner. The New Zealand captain came onto bowl when it seemed DC had decisively swung the match in their favour. Captain Gardner had gone for 19 runs in the 18th over, as Wolvaardt smashed three fours and a six. Also Read | WPL 2026: Aussies day out as Gardner and Wareham shine for Gujarat Giants, Litchfield’s stunning knock in vain Then came a sloppy 19th from Gautam as she conceded 22 with Rodrigues and Wolvaardt putting DC on the brink of a memorable win.Story continues below this ad Up stepped Devine to deliver a clutch last over, in which she mixed up her pace beautifully. A split-seam slower ball deceived Rodrigues, as she gloved one behind the wicket. Marizanne Kapp got off strike to bring back Wolvaardt to finish the job, but the South Africa captain found the fielder at deep midwicket. A slower ball to Sneh Rana sealed the win. 🚨 𝐇𝐚𝐭-𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭 🚨 Nandni Sharma, you beauty 👌 #TATAWPL‘s 4th hat-trick 🫡 Updates ▶️ https://t.co/owLBJyAIzb #TATAWPL | #KhelEmotionKa | #DCvGG | @DelhiCapitals pic.twitter.com/Crnlx2PW5I — Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) January 11, 2026 Devine power Before her match-winning last over, Devine scored another WPL epic with the bat, smashing 95 off 42 balls. The stunning innings will be remembered for the eight sixes but the real power she possesses was seen in some of the fours she struck early on. A scorching off-drive off the first ball of the second over was the first indicator that she was in the zone, as she gave no chance for the mid-off fielder. 𝘿𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 💪 What a way to get to your FIFTY 💥 Updates ▶️ https://t.co/owLBJyAIzb #TATAWPL | #KhelEmotionKa | #DCvGG pic.twitter.com/20H3rBpaXm — Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) January 11, 2026 Then there was a cover-drive off Nandni, hit so hard that Niki Prasad, backtracking at cover, let it go through her for four. That was followed by another one that Kapp parried for four at deep cover, with the ball speeding across the outfield. When Rana was brought on to finish the Powerplay, Devine let loose. She started the over with a slog past midwicket and then a lofted cut shot that Kapp dived and got a hand to, but the ball burst through her fingers. The Kiwi finished the over with four sixes in a row. Fielding focus In GG’s innings, Sree Charani picked up two really good catches, after her struggles during the recent T20I series against Sri Lanka – especially with high catches. The one to dismiss Devine was especially well taken. Lizelle Lee ✅ Chinelle Henry ✅ Celebrations in the #GG camp as they pick both the big-hitters 🥳 Updates ▶️ https://t.co/owLBJyAIzb#KhelEmotionKa | #DCvGG pic.twitter.com/9M3JKsXMxU — Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) January 11, 2026 But the headline fielding act of the night came from Anushka Sharma in the 19th over of DC’s chase. Gautam’s high full toss was smashed by Rodrigues and was heading for a six. But Anushka leapt in the air, blocked the ball and patted it down inside the boundary line. It saved four runs and GG won by that margin. “That was a turning point,” Gardner would remark later. Brief scores: Gujarat Giants 209 (Devine 95; Nandni 5/33) beat Delhi Capitals 205/5 (Lee 86, Wolvaardt 77; Devine 2/21) by four runs
Women’s Premier League: Sophie Devine shines with bat and ball as Gujarat Giants clinch high-scoring thriller against Delhi Capitals
