POTM: Sophie Devine (95 Runs & 2 Wkts)
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By: Sportspress Senior Cricket Analyst
Date: January 11, 2026
Match: Gujarat Giants (GG) vs. Delhi Capitals (DC)
Venue: DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai
Result: Gujarat Giants won by 4 runs
Player of the Match: Sophie Devine (95 runs & 2 wickets)
"Cricket is a funny game." We hear this cliché often, but tonight at the DY Patil Stadium, cricket wasn't just funny—it was insane, heartbreaking, and absolutely breathtaking.
In a match that saw a staggering 414 runs scored, the result came down to the final ball. The Gujarat Giants (GG) pulled off a heist for the ages, defeating the Delhi Capitals (DC) by a razor-thin margin of 4 runs.
It was a tale of two halves: The Giants posting a mammoth 209 thanks to a brutal 95 from Sophie Devine, and the Capitals nearly chasing it down through the genius of Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt, only to choke in the final over when they needed just 7 runs with 7 wickets in hand.
Here is the complete, blow-by-blow analysis of this WPL classic.
"Before diving into the match highlights, if you haven't read our detailed Pre-Match Analysis & Prediction yet, check it out here to see how we expected the game to unfold: 👉 [Read Previous Article]"
CHAPTER 1: The Sophie Devine Show – Gujarat Giants Bat First
When Gujarat Giants were asked to bat, few could have predicted the storm that was about to hit Navi Mumbai.
The Giants, fresh off an opening win, played with a freedom that was terrifying for the bowlers.
The "Devine" Storm (95 off 42 balls)
If you missed the first innings, you missed one of the greatest T20 knocks ever played. Sophie Devine didn't just bat; she bullied the Delhi attack.
- The Powerplay: She raced to her fifty in record time, treating the spinners with disdain.
- The Over from Hell: In one over against the experienced Sneh Rana, Devine smashed 32 runs (4, 6, 6, 4, 6, 6). It was carnage.
- The Heartbreak: She looked destined for a historic WPL century but fell for 95 off just 42 balls. It was an innings that set the tone for the entire match.
The Supporting Cast
While Devine stole the show, her partners played crucial roles.
- Beth Mooney: The reliable opener provided solid support early on.
- Ashleigh Gardner: The skipper anchored the middle order with a classy 49, ensuring the momentum didn't drop after Devine's wicket.
The Hat-Trick Twist
Just when it looked like Gujarat would cross 220, Delhi’s debutant Nandni Sharma produced a moment of magic. Bowling the final over, she took a sensational Hat-Trick, finishing with a five-wicket haul (5/33). It was a bittersweet performance—brilliant individually, but her team had still conceded 209.
Score at Half-Time: Gujarat Giants 209 All Out (20 Overs).
Target for Delhi Capitals: 210.
CHAPTER 2: The Chase – Delhi Capitals Fight Fire with Fire
Chasing 210 requires bravery, and Delhi Capitals had plenty of it. Despite losing Shafali Verma early (another quiet outing for the young star), the Capitals didn't panic.
Lizelle Lee’s Masterclass (86 Runs)
The South African powerhouse took up the challenge. Lizelle Lee played an innings of pure quality.
- She attacked the pacers and swept the spinners. Her 86 runs kept Delhi in the hunt when the required rate was climbing.
- When she fell, Delhi still needed a miracle, but she had laid the platform.
The Laura Wolvaardt Turnaround (77 off 38)
Enter Laura Wolvaardt. Known for her classic drives, tonight she showed her destructive side.
- The Acceleration: She smashed 47 runs off her last 15 balls.
- The 18th & 19th Overs: Wolvaardt and Jemimah Rodrigues took apart Kashvee Gautam and Ashleigh Gardner, plundering boundaries and sixes.
- The Equation: From looking impossible, Wolvaardt brought the equation down to 7 runs needed off the last 6 balls. Delhi was in the driver's seat. They had wickets in hand. The game was theirs to lose.
CHAPTER 3: The Final Over – How Delhi Lost the "Unlosable" Game
The Equation: 7 runs needed off 6 balls.
The Bowler: Sophie Devine (The hero with the bat).
The Batters: Laura Wolvaardt (Set on 77) & Jemimah Rodrigues (Set on 15).
What followed was a masterclass in death bowling and a meltdown in batting composure.
- 19.1: Devine bowls a full toss. Wolvaardt pulls it for 1 run. (6 needed off 5).
- 19.2 (WICKET): Jemimah Rodrigues tries to sweep a slower ball. She misses and is given Caught Behind. Review confirms a spike. OUT! A massive blow. (6 needed off 4).
- 19.3: Marizanne Kapp walks in. Devine bowls a perfect yorker/full ball. Dot ball. (6 needed off 3).
- 19.4: Kapp flicks a full ball to deep mid-wicket for 1 run. (5 needed off 2).
- 19.5 (WICKET): Laura Wolvaardt, the set batter, tries to finish it with a six. She mistimes a heave to deep mid-wicket. Georgia Wareham takes a calm catch under pressure. OUT! (5 needed off 1).
- 19.6: Sneh Rana on strike. 5 to win, 4 to tie. Devine bowls full and wide outside off. Rana swings and misses. DOT BALL!
Gujarat Giants WIN by 4 Runs!
Sophie Devine defended 7 runs in the final over against two set batters. It was legendary stuff.
CHAPTER 4: Post-Match Reactions
Sophie Devine (Player of the Match):
Devine was relieved but realistic. She admitted that even 209 wasn't "safe" on this pitch.
"I felt we were maybe 15 runs short... 210-220 might not be enough in the future," she said. She credited the "excellent batting conditions" and praised Wolvaardt and Lee for their knocks.
Ashleigh Gardner (Winning Captain):
Gardner called it a "stolen game." She admitted Delhi was in a comfortable position.
"When it came down to 7 runs off the last over, it was a genuine scare," she confessed. She praised her team's belief to win from any position.
Jemimah Rodrigues (Losing Captain):
A heartbroken Jemimah expressed pride in her team's fightback.
"We showed unwavering belief... but it's tough to contain a player like Sophie Devine," she noted. She highlighted the need to fix their Powerplay bowling but praised the batting partnerships.
Anushka Sharma (GG Fielder):
Young Anushka Sharma, who saved crucial runs with a spectacular boundary save (despite it being a no-ball later), spoke about the surreal feeling of playing with legends like Devine. "Having experienced players around motivates us to improve," she said.
CHAPTER 5: Key Talking Points
1. The "No-Ball" Save
In the 19th over, Anushka Sharma made a spectacular jump to save a six. Although the delivery was eventually called a No-Ball for height, her effort showed the Giants' commitment in the field. Those saved runs (turning a 6 into fewer runs) proved crucial in a 4-run win.
2. Delhi’s Choke
Needing 7 off 6 with set batters is a situation the batting team should win 99% of the time. Delhi panicked. Jemimah’s scoop shot and Wolvaardt’s glory shot were unnecessary when singles and doubles would have tied the game.
3. Nandni Sharma’s Hat-Trick
Let’s not forget the debutant. Taking a hat-trick in the 20th over of a WPL match is immense. She is a find for the future, even in a losing cause.
Conclusion: The WPL is Alive and Kicking!
If anyone doubted the entertainment value of the WPL, this match was the answer.
Gujarat Giants go 2-0 and look like serious title contenders.
Delhi Capitals go 0-2, but they have lost two close games. They are down, but with batting like this, they are definitely not out.
The caravan moves on. Tomorrow, Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on UP Warriorz. But tonight, the headlines belong to one woman: Sophie Devine.
Final Scorecard Summary:
- Gujarat Giants: 209 All Out (Devine 95, Gardner 49, Nandni 5/33)
- Delhi Capitals: 205/5 (Lee 86, Wolvaardt 77, Devine 2/21)
- Result: Gujarat Giants won by 4 runs.
FAQ: WPL Match 4 Result (GG vs DC)
Q1: Who won the match between Gujarat Giants and Delhi Capitals?
Ans: Gujarat Giants won the thriller by 4 runs.
Q2: Who was the Player of the Match?
Ans: Sophie Devine (GG) for scoring 95 runs and taking 2 wickets (defending 7 runs in the last over).
Q3: Who took a hat-trick in the match?
Ans: Delhi Capitals' debutant Nandni Sharma took a hat-trick in the 20th over of the first innings.
Q4: How many runs did Laura Wolvaardt score?
Ans: Laura Wolvaardt scored a brilliant 77 runs off 38 balls, almost winning the game for Delhi.
Q5: What was the total score of the match?
Ans: A total of 414 runs were scored (GG 209 + DC 205).
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