By defeating the Delhi Capitals, who were at the top of the table, by five wickets, the Gujarat Giants secured a hat-trick of victories and secured their spot in the WPL 2025 Eliminator.
Gujarat Giants overcame table-toppers Delhi Capitals by five wickets on Friday to record a hat-trick of victories and secure their spot in the Women’s Premier League Eliminator in Lucknow, despite captain Meg Lanning’s impressive 92. The Delhi Capitals, who are already in the playoffs, amassed a respectable 177 for five thanks to Lanning’s 92 off 57 balls, which included 15 boundaries and a six. However, Harleen Deol’s undefeated 70 off 49 balls and Beth Mooney’s 35-ball 44 helped Gujarat stay in the game, but the score was insufficient.
In the last over, Ashleigh Gardner, the captain, scored 22 off 13 and Deandra Dottin, who scored 24 off 10, helped the Gujarat Giants surpass the goal.
With wicket-keeper Mooney (44) and Deol working together to stitch 84 runs for the second wicket, the Gujarat team lost opener Dayalan Hemalatha in the second over when he was caught by Lanning at extra cover off Shikha Pandey’s bowling.
With a relaxed demeanor, Mooney and Deol collected 15 runs from Annnabel Sutherland’s ninth over, which featured three beautiful boundaries.Before off-spinner Minnu Mani ended the partnership and dismissed Mooney, the two batsmen exchanged 84 runs for the second wicket.
Mooney came down the track and attempted to smash a delivery that Mani drifted up on the middle and off over the bowler’s head, but it was cut to Sutherland instead.
Deol continued to bat at the other end and kept GG in the chase after Captain Gardner made a contribution of 22 off 13.
Dottin hit Jess Jonassen for two fours and a six in the thrilling eighteenth over, which completely changed the course of the match. The spinner then removed Phoebe Litchfield and the West Indian batsman from consecutive deliveries, with the second wicket occurring in the final ball of the over.In order to reduce the equation to seven runs in the final over, Kashvee Gautam hit Shikha Pandey for a six off the final ball after the team needed 16 runs off two overs.
Lanning and Shafali Verma (40 off 27; 3x4s, 3x6s) combined for a rapid 83 runs off just nine overs after being sent in to bat earlier, giving DC a huge lead.
However, Shafali failed to connect after going for another maximum off Meghna Singh’s bowling and was caught by Litchfield at the boundary.
However, Lanning remained focused and proceeded with an aggressive mindset.Lanning maintained her attacking game despite DC losing Jess Jonassen and Jemimah Rodrigues in rapid succession.
Lanning had some company from Sutherland (14 off 8, 2x4s), but she also died while trying to find a big hit.
Lanning was bowled by Deandra Dottin in the penultimate delivery of the innings, falling eight runs short of a century.
Lanning missed the line to have her stumps knocked off when she attempted to heave to a slower, back-of-length delivery.
Of the Gujarat bowlers, Meghna (3/35) was the best, and Dottin took two wickets for 37.
