Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Giants, WPL 2026 Highlights: Sophie Devine's All-Round Heroics Result In Heartbreak For Jemimah Rodrigues And Co

We are back for the second chapter to unfold! The umpires are marching toward the center of the park. Shafali Verma and Lizelle Lee will open the inning for Delhi Capitals. Ashleigh Gardner has some last words to the players before they scatter to take their fielding positions. Renuka Singh Thakur has the new ball in hand. Let's play...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

So, 210 runs is the target set on the board and Delhi Capitals batters have an uphill task. The pitch looked to provide some assistance to the pace deliveries of Marizanne Kapp, so there is a chance of the pacers like Renuka Singh Thakur getting early breakthroughs in the early stages of the Powerplay. But let us give you the reminder that in this stadium the dew hits, and when it hits the bowlers have diffult time to grip the ball. So stay tuned for the second essay to commence.

Nandni Sharma of Delhi Capitals is up for a quick chat, wearing the purple cap after picking five wickets! She shared that her focus was on maintaining consistent line and length by following instructions from teammates Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma. Expressing surprise at the successful outcome, she credited the unwavering support of her entire team for her success. Sharma noted that identifying the effectiveness of slower deliveries early on allowed her to utilize more variations during the death overs to secure critical breakthroughs.

Gardner continued her knock despite the wickets falling one after the other. She got dismissed as well in the 18th over by Chinelle Henry, and just missed her half-century by one run. However, walked back to the pavilion, being the second-highest six-hitter in WPL history. In the last over, Nandni Sharma got her Hat-trick on the very last delivery of the inning and completed her five-wicket haul. Chinelle Henry and Sree Charani bagged two scalps as well and Shafali Verma chipped in for one.

Ashleigh Gardner then stepped in to fill the shoes of Mooney so that Devine could continue her thundering strokeplay. Soon enough after the first breakthrough, just when we thought we might witness the first player in the Women's Premier League to get to a century, Devine got out to Nandni Sharma, and Sree stepped up to get the wicket of Georgia Wareham. From 94 for no loss, the Giants came down to 129 for 3. But just when DC thought they could get back into the game, the Giants' skipper, Ashleigh Gardner, started with her fireworks and triggered the scoreline.

Folks, this is Women's Premier League at its best! What an outstanding inning it was, starting from Sophie Devine's fierce knock to Nandni Sharma's Hat-trick, everything was picture-perfect. The innings started well for Gujarat Giants, all thanks to Sophie Devine, who really took on the DC bowlers and Beth Mooney provided the support. By the end of the Powerplay, together they put 80 runs on the board and Sophie Devine got her half-century in just 25 deliveries. It was Sree Charani who picked the first wicket in the 9th over and broke the crucial partnership, but that didn't stop Devine.

OUT! CASTLED!!! NANDNI SHARMA HAS BAGGED A HAT-TRICK! Stuff of dreams for Nandni Sharma as she becomes the fourth-ever player to take a hat-trick in WPL history. On a length around off, keeps it within the line of the stumps. Renuka Singh Thakur shuffles across and looks to ramp but misses. The ball goes on and smashes into the off-stump. Nandni Sharma sets off to celebrate the hat-trick. Gujarat Giants have been bowled out for 209.

Renuka Singh Thakur is the last batter on the crease to face the Hat-Trick delivery.

OUT! BOWLED'EM! On length, around middle and off, Rajeshwari Gayakwad gets pinned deep into her crease as she looks to flick this away, but she misses, and the ball rattles the timber behind her. Two in two for Nandni Sharma and she is on a hat-trick.

Rajeshwari Gayakwad walks up next.

OUT! STUMPED OUT! Back of the hand, slower one, wide of off. Kanika Ahuja dances down the track and looks to go downtown. Misses out on any connection with the bat and Lizelle Lee does the rest by gathering this behind the stumps and removing the bails in a flash. This is sent upstairs and replay shows that Kanika Ahuja was out of her crease when the bails were dislodges by Lee.

Good length on middle and leg, Tanuja Kanwer pulls this deep mid-wicket and takes one.

Can Gujarat Giants score around 215?

Tanuja Kanwer walks up next.

OUT! CAUGHT! Nandni Sharma gets her second of the contest. Short and on off, Kashvee Gautam looks to clear long on but doesn't get enough power behind it. HIts this straight to Chinelle Henry at long on for a simple catch.

On a length around the pads, Kanika Ahuja flicks this through mid-wicket for one.

On a length around off, Kanika Ahuja hammers this down to long on for one. Six singles off the penultimate over.

Full and on the pads, Kashvee Gautam milks this to deep mid-wicket for another single.

On a length around the pads, Kanika Ahuja tucks this through mid-wicket for one.