While DC’s point total remains at eight from six games, GG now has four points from six games. The victory also kept the Giants in contention for a spot in the playoffs.
Arundhati Reddy (25) and Shikha Pandey (8 not out) kept Delhi’s hopes alive until late in the game with a 35-run ninth-wicket stand, but Gujarat prevailed thanks to Kim Garth (4-0-18-2) and Gardner’s impressive spells.
Reddy and Pandey teamed up when Delhi was exactly 48 runs away from victory with more than five overs remaining and batted sensibly without any element of risk, but Garth eventually ended their partnership.
Reddy, who hit four fours in her 17-ball 25, played one shot too many when she was caught at cover with Delhi needing another 13 runs to win, and Gardner bowled Yadav to seal the game.
Delhi got off to a shaky start, losing fast bowlers Shafali Verma (8) and Meg Lanning (18) inside the Powerplay, as well as Alice Capsey, who was run out after an 11-ball 22 with two fours and three sixes.
While Shafali was bowled out by Gujarat Giants captain Sneh Rana’s left-arm spinner Tanuja Kanwar, Lanning was caught playing across the line and pinned leg-before the wickets.
Capsey was run out before she could put her bat down on the ground to drag in a single with Jemimah Rodrigues due to a bad call for a single with Jemimah Rodrigues.
Earlier in the first half, half-centuries from Beth Mooney’s replacement Laura Wolvaardt (57) and Gardner (51 not out) propelled Gujarat Giants to 147/4 in 20 overs, after they had crawled to an unimpressive 53/2 halfway through.
Harleen Deol got another start but couldn’t convert it into a big score, falling for a 33-ball 31 with four fours, but the Gujarat side was saved by Wolvaardt and Gardner. South African Wolvaardt and Australian Gardner added 81 runs for the third wicket from only 53 balls to help Gujarat recover from a slow start.
In an inning of two halves, the right-handed Wolvaardt struggled with timing and placement, with the other highlighting her ruthless best. Wolvaardt hit six fours and a six to make 57 off 45 balls, and he also shared a slow but steady 49-run stand with Deol for the second wicket.
The game here on Thursday night was the Capitals’ second meeting with the Giants in the inaugural season of the WPL. In their previous match, Delhi had won by a massive 10-wicket margin, chasing down a target of just over 100 in eight overs at the DY Patil Stadium.
