Mooney’s fifty and Devine’s 4-fer led to a stunning victory for the team, sinking the Delhi Capitals in Vadodara. Discover the match highlights and analysis.
Introduction:
The Vadodara International Stadium witnessed a spectacle of high-octane drama on January 27, 2026, as the Gujarat Giants pulled off a heist against the Delhi Capitals. In a match that ebbed and flowed with the intensity of a championship final, the Giants defended a total of 174, winning by a hair’s breadth of three runs. The protagonist of this thriller was none other than Sophie Devine, who exorcised the demons of an expensive penultimate spell to deliver a final over that will be etched in WPL folklore.
For the Delhi Capitals, the loss was a stinging case of déjàvu. Only sixteen days prior, Devine had defended a mere six runs against them to secure a win. History repeated itself in the most agonizing fashion for the Capitals, who, despite a breathtaking late-order surge from Niki Prasad and Sneh Rana, fell three runs short of a target that had seemed within their grasp. See also: Nat Sciver-Brunt’s 100 Rewrites the WPL Record Books
The Anchor and the Aggressor: Mooney and Anushka Set the Stage
After being asked to bat first, the Gujarat Giants needed a solid foundation on a pitch that had shown signs of improvement throughout the tournament. Beth Mooney, the veteran Australian wicketkeeper-batter, provided exactly that. Her innings of 58 off 46 balls was a masterclass in anchoring a T20 innings. Mooney didn’t resort to reckless power; instead, she utilized her elite placement and strike rotation to keep the scoreboard ticking, hitting seven boundaries along the way.
While Mooney played the role of the anchor, Anushka Sharma acted as the engine room. Her brisk 39 off 25 deliveries featured eight crisp boundaries, shifting the momentum in Gujarat’s favor during the middle overs. The duo stitched together a vital 54-run partnership for the second wicket, ensuring that the Giants reached a competitive 174 for 9, despite a late-innings collapse triggered by the sensational Shree Charani. Charani’s career-best figures of 4-31 were a testament to her accuracy, but Tanuja Kanwar’s late-inning cameo of 21* off 11 balls proved to be the “hidden” difference-maker that pushed the total into the defendable bracket.
The Capitals’ Falter: Gayakwad and Devine Stifle the Top Order
Delhi’s chase of 175 began with the usual firework display from Shafali Verma, who raced to 26 in no time. However, the introduction of spin changed the complexion of the game. Rajeshwari Gayakwad (3-20) produced a spell of absolute control, removing Verma and the dangerous Laura Wolvaardt (24) just as they looked to take the game away.
At the other end, Sophie Devine was already making her presence felt, removing Lizelle Lee and the Delhi captain, Jemimah Rodrigues. Rodrigues, attempting to break the shackles with a scoop, found her stumps disturbed by a clever, slower ball from Devine. When Marizanne Kapp fell for a golden duck to Ashleigh Gardner, Delhi slumped to 84 for 5, and the 175-run target looked like a mountain too high to climb.
The Prasad-Rana Storm: A Fearless Counterattack
Just as the Giants’ supporters began to celebrate prematurely, Niki Prasad and Sneh Rana unleashed a counter-offensive that silenced the Vadodara crowd. Prasad, the 20-year-old middle-order batter, played with the freedom of someone with nothing to lose. She smashed 47 off just 24 balls, utilizing her feet to disrupt the lengths of the Gujarat spinners.
The turning point of the chase arrived in the 17th over, ironically bowled by Sophie Devine. In a staggering display of hitting, Prasad and Rana plundered 23 runs in a single over, cutting the equation down significantly. The partnership blossomed into a 70-run stand off in just 31 deliveries. Rana’s six off Gardner in the 19th over left Delhi needing only nine runs from the final six balls. The momentum had swung entirely; the Giants looked shell-shocked.
The Final Over Redemption: Devine Stands Tall
Ashleigh Gardner, the Gujarat captain, showed immense faith by handing the ball back to Devine for the final over, despite her previous over going for 23. It was a gamble that paid off in spectacular fashion. Devine, drawing on her vast international experience, opted for simplicity over flair.
Ball 1-3: Devine utilized the short boundary to her advantage, bowling tight lines that allowed only four runs. The pressure shifted back to the batters.
The Breakthrough: On the fourth delivery, Devine tempted Sneh Rana (29) into a big hit. The connection wasn’t true, and Georgia Wareham took a pressure-cooker catch in the deep.
The Final Act: With four runs needed off the final ball, Niki Prasad swung for the heavens. The ball hung in the humid air for what felt like an eternity before landing safely in the hands of Ashleigh Gardner at long-on.
The Giants erupted in celebration. Devine, who finished with 4-37, had turned an expensive night into a match-winning masterpiece. The victory propelled Gujarat Giants to second place on the WPL 2026 points table, leaving them one win away from a guaranteed knockout berth.
Lessons in Resilience: A Season Double for the Giants
This victory was more than just two points for Gujarat; it was a psychological triumph. Completing a season double over a powerhouse like Delhi Capitals reinforces the Giants’ status as genuine title contenders. For Delhi, the heartbreak of falling three runs short will serve as a wake-up call regarding their top-order consistency.
As the WPL takes a short breather, the focus shifts to the final league fixtures. Gujarat’s victory has ensured that the race for the top spot remains a three-way battle between Mumbai, Gujarat, and Delhi. If Sophie Devine continues to produce these “ice-cold” moments at the death, the Giants might just be the team to beat when the playoffs begin in early February.
