Vadodara’s BCA Stadium witnessed pure cricket drama as Gujarat Giants defended 174 to beat Delhi Capitals by just 3 runs in WPL 2026 Match 17. With this gritty performance, Giants now boast four wins from seven, sitting pretty in second spot, while Capitals languish in fourth with matching wins but more losses.
Batting first after losing the toss, Giants lost Devine early for 13, but Mooney and Sharma rebuilt with a brisk 54-run alliance. Sharma’s explosive 39 (8×4) off 25 set the tone. Mooney’s marathon 58 (7×4) off 46, alongside partnerships with Gardner and Wareham, lifted the total. Tanuja’s late flourish of 21 (4×4) off 11 pushed them to 174/9. Hatherley’s 4/31 was Capitals’ best bowling effort.
Capitals’ chase began promisingly with 26 from Verma and Lee, but early wickets piled up. Rodrigues and Wolvaardt clawed back to 82/3, yet a middle-order meltdown saw them at 100/6. Prasad’s masterful 47 and Rana’s 29 formed a match-turning 70-run stand, including 20 in the 19th over.
Needing 9 off the last over, Capitals lost Rana midway. On the final ball, bowled by the match-winner Devine, Prasad’s skier was pouched by Wareham. Devine’s 4/37, backed by Gayakwad’s 3 wickets, proved decisive. Giants’ bowlers showed nerves of steel, turning pressure into playoff momentum in this WPL spectacle.