WPL 2026: Sophie Devines all-round heroics help Gujarat Giants beat Delhi Capitals in last-ball thriller
Sophie Devine slammed a blistering 95-run knock and produced a sensational last over to help Gujarat Giants beat Delhi Capitals by 4 runs in a nail-biting thriller in the WPL 2026 on Sunday.
A stellar all-round performance from veteran Sophie Devine helped Gujarat Giants (GG) beat Delhi Capitals (DC) by 4 runs in a nail-biting last-ball thriller to bag their second win in a row in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 on Sunday. After smashing a brilliant knock of 95 runs, Devine bowled a sensational final over, defending 7 runs off it to help Gujarat Giants register a close victory.
The game appeared to be in the Giants' grip at one stage, with DC requiring 60 runs to win from the last four overs while chasing a hefty target of 210 runs at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. However, Laura Wolvaardt's blitzkrieg in the death overs brought DC close to victory as the South African batter helped her side get 53 runs off 18 balls before the final over.
With 7 runs to get in the 20th over, DC were the favourites, but fell agonisingly short as Devine dismissed Wolvaardt and skipper Jemimah Rodrigues inside three deliveries to turn the game in her side's favour. The New Zealand all-rounder capped off a stellar all-round effort by taking two wickets and giving away only 2 runs in the final over to secure a nail-biting 4-run victory for the Gujarat Giants.
Wolvaardt's quickfire 77 off 38 balls and opener Lizelle Lee's blistering 84-run knock went in vain as Delhi Capitals failed to nail down what would have been a record successful chase despite coming close. Lee, who hammered 86 off just 54 balls, laced with 12 fours and three sixes, got DC off to a flyer in the 210-run chase and added a vital 90-run stand for the 2nd wicket with Wolvaardt.
After her departure, Wolvaardt took control of the proceedings for DC and kept them in the game despite the required run rate mounting up. Rodrigues joined her in the middle after Chinelle Henry was dismissed cheaply on 7 on the final ball of the 16th over. With 60 runs to get off the last four overs, the duo batted well to score 53 runs off the next 18 balls.
However, they both fell in quick succession in the final over as Devine held her nerves to clinch a thriller for the Gujarat Giants.
Sophie Devine smashes a brilliant 95 for Gujarat Giants
Earlier, Devine starred with the bat after DC won the toss and asked the Giants to bat first in the game. Opening the innings with Beth Mooney (19), Devine went all guns blazing from the word go and added 94 runs for the first wicket with the Aussie wicket-keeper batter.
She completed her fifty off just 25 balls and ended up smashing 32 runs off a single over against Sneh Rana, the most by any batter in a single over in the WPL. Devine continued her exploits from one end and finished with a cracking 95 off 42 balls, studded with 8 sixes and seven fours.
However, she ended up missing out on her maiden WPL ton after getting dismissed by Nandini Sharma in the 11th over. 24-year-old Nandini went on to pick up a hat-trick in the final over of GG's innings to become only the 4th bowler to do so in the league. She also picked up 4 wickets in the over to claim the record for the most wickets in an over by any bowler in the WPL.
However, her wickets arrived too late as Devine's 95 and captain Ashleigh Gardner's quickfire 26-ball 49 powered Gujarat Giants to a big total of 209/10 in 20 overs, their highest in the history of the WPL. It was also their second successive 200-plus total after they posted 207/4 on the board in their opener against the UP Warriorz on Saturday.
Gujarat Giants are the only team to have picked up two wins in two matches in the WPL 2026 so far and are currently sitting at the top of the points table with four points from two games. They will look to continue their winning run in the tournament when they lock horns with the Mumbai Indians on Tuesday, January 13.