GG vs DC HIGHLIGHTS WPL 2023: Shafali’s 19-ball fifty powers Delhi to 10-wicket win in 7.1 overs, Kapp records five-wicket haul

I wasn’t in a hurry, but I was trying to give my best during the run chase. Now we can rest and enjoy ourselves. I got out while playing flick in the last match, so I tried to play straight tonight. I would like to thank Lanning for her advice. I want to work hard in future and keep scoring and playing in the same way. We (openers) tried to give our best for the team, and we managed to do so. We backed ourselves during the chase, kept talking to each other, and you know such small things matter as a player. The pitch was really nice to bat on. We’ll try to keep performing in the same manner in the upcoming games.

Rana: It’s completely okay. Girls did the best they can do. So it’s fine. Pitch was a bit skiddy. It was a good decision (at the toss) because the ball was coming on well. Hand is fine, hope it gets better. Shafali was fantastic tonight. All those shots were incredible.

DC just needs 3 to win! Wareham to Lanning. Lanning paddles the ball over short-fine leg for FOUR and DC demolishes GG by 10 wickets in just 7.1 overs!

Mansi continues. Lanning pushes the ball to long-on for a single. A gentle outswinger on length and Shafali scythes ball over cover for FOUR. More room and Shafali smashes the ball over deep cover for SIX. Slower bouncer and Shafali misses out on an upper-cut. Another steep bouncer and the umpire signals a wide. Slower ball on the full and Shafali creams it over extra cover for FOUR. 16 from the over!

Kanwar slides one down leg and there’s another wide and bye. Lanning steps out and drives through extra cover for a single. Kanwar comes over the wicket. In the slot and Shafali shimmies down and smokes the ball straight down the ground for SIX! SIX more! Shafali steps out and clobbers the ball over deep extra cover for another maximum! A rare dot to finish the PowerPlay. DC racks up 87/0 in the PP! Amazing.

Mansi Joshi replaces Garth. Length from Mansi and Shafali swipes it down the ground past mid-on for FOUR. A single to follow. Mansi slides down leg and gives a wide. Fumble from the keeper and there’s a bye. Slower ball on length and Shafali slices it past point for FOUR. A single and Shafali brings up a 19-ball FIFTY - the fastest by an Indian in the WPL!

Ash Gardner into the attack. Shafali steps out and drills another ball down the ground for FOUR. Gardner angles the ball in and Shafali sweeps the ball through square-leg for FOUR. Gardner tosses one in and Shafali unleashes the slog-sweep for a massive SIX over mid-wicket. Full toss from Gardner and Shafali gets a thick outside-edge for a single. Gardner wafts one in and Lanning pushes the ball past cover for FOUR off the backfoot. Gardner darts one in outside the off-stump and Lanning slices it through point for FOUR more! 23 runs from the over.

Garth overpitches and Shafali crunches the ball down the ground for another FOUR. Garth aims to slide the ball in but Shafali makes room to carve the ball through extra cover for FOUR. Length from Garth and Shafali dabs the ball over short-third for another FOUR! A single to follow. Garth is all over the place at the moment and concedes a wide. Lanning nudges a length ball to cover and finds another run.

Tanuja Kanwar from the opposite end. She starts with a wide. Kanwar strays to the pads and Lanning paddles the ball for a single. In the slot and Shafali charges to wallop the bowler over long-off for a SIX. Kanwar tosses one outside off and Shafali steps out and hangs her bat out to loft the ball over cover for FOUR. A single to follow.

Lanning gets off the mark with a single to deep point. Shafali nudges the ball to short cover and completes a quick single. Lanning gets an inside-edge towards square leg and gets another run. Garth overpitches and Shafali pumps the ball in a flash. The ball hits Garth hard on the hand and it will probably go down as a tough drop.

Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma open the chase. Kim Garth takes the new ball.

Kapp: Just think I was all over the place in the first three games. I bowled full today, hit the right lengths and it worked for me. Myself and Shikha (Pandey) were talking, when we bowl second there is not much help for us. Today, when we lost the toss, we were happy to bowl first. The ball started moving around a bit when I changed the grip of the ball. It’s been so good to have her (Dane van Niekerk) here, I am happy. As long as my team is winning, I don’t care.

Mansi Joshi finds a FOUR off the last ball against Jonassen and Gujarat finishes at 105/9. Given the collapse, it’s an achievement they played out the full 20 overs.

Shikha to Kanwar, OUT! Kanwar steps out and miscues a slog down to Jemimah at long-on. Shikha to Rana, crack! Rana attempts slash a ball but it rebounds it her flush on the helmet. The physio runs out. Shikha to Rana, OUT! Slower ball and Rana miscues the slog. The ball goes straight up and Shikha takes an easy catch.

Tanuja Kanwar c Rodrigues b Pandey 13 (19b 1x4)

Jonassen varies her pace and Garth chips one ball down to long-off for a single. Just three from the over.

Shikha returns. Shika comes around thewicket and Kanwar gets a lucky inside-edge past the stumps for FOUR. A single to follow. Shikha overpitches and Garth slices the ball past short-third for another FOUR.

Minnu maintains a flatter trajectory and concedes six singles on the trot. GG is aiming to play out the full 20 overs at the moment.

Radha strangles Garth with three dots. A push to long-on and Garth only finds a single. Just a single from the over.

Minnu loops one in and Tanuja mistimes the slog-sweep to deep mid-wicket for one run. Minnu slides one in and Garth flicks the ball to wide long-on for two runs. Four from the over.

Short from Radha and Wareham slaps it through mid-wicket for FOUR. Radha to Wareham, OUT! Cleans her up this time. Tanuja Kanwar in at 9. Three dots on the trot and Kanwar guides a length ball towards mid-wicket for a single.

Georgia Wareham b Yadav 22 (25b 2x4)

Jonassen maintains a tight line and the batter rotate strike with a slew of singles.

Shikha returns. Shikha mixes up her lengths and the batters struggle to put bat to ball. Just the three singles from the over.

Minnu Mani into the attack. Garth tucks the ball to square-leg and finds a single. A single follows. Short from Minnu and Garth punches the ball past point for FOUR. Eight runs from the over as Gujarat moves past 50.

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Tara Norris replaces Kapp. Norris offers room from over the wicket and Wareham slaps the ball through extra cover for FOUR. Tara shapes one across the line and finds the leading edge from Wareham sliding past point for a single. A thick outsid-edge for Garth as well down to third, one run.

Radha returns. Radha wafts one in and Garth paddles the ball for FOUR down leg. A couple of runs to follow. Delhi has tightened the lease on GG.

Kapp to bowl out! Impressive lines once again and the batters resort to a couple of singles. Kapp slides one down leg and concedes a wide. Kapp to Sushma, OUT! Cleans up the stumps once again - five-wicket haul for Kapp! She has been unplayable throughout the PP and Lanning’s punt to give her another over helps her bag her maiden five-for in T20s. What a spell of bowling from the South African.

Sushma Verma b Kapp 2 (10b)

Jess Jonassen into the attack. A couple of tight deliveries and Jonassen drop short. Sushma rocks back and pulls the ball down to deep mid-wicket for a single. Jonassen strays to the pads and Wareham flicks the ball through the on-side for one run. Short again but Sushma fails to pierce the packed off-side ring.

Kapp to continue. A streaky inside-edge for Wareham to the on-side and she gets off strike with a single. Length ball outside the off-stump and Harleen charges down the ground to pump the ball to long-off for FOUR. LOUD APPEAL and the umpire denies another lbw. Meg Lanning and Co. go up for another review. What a delivery from Kapp. A cheeky little roll of the fingers for a in-dipping slower ball and seems to hit plumb in front. OUT! Three reds and another top review from Delhi. Sushma Verma is in at 7. She is off the mark with a single down to third.

Harleen Deol lbw b Kapp 20 (14b 4x4)

Shikha Pandey replaces Radha. Shikha attempts an off-cutter with a slower ball on the full and Hemalatha leans into a drive past point for FOUR. A straighter line and Shikha’s off-cutter hits the pad this time but the ball is sliding down leg. Loud appeal for a caught behind but the umpire is unmoved and Meg Lanning goes up for an instant review. OUT! Shikha removes Hemalatha! She plays a length ball outside the off-stump away from her body and gents a faint nick on it. Lanning and the keeper instantly picked up the noise and opted for a fine review. Gujarat is all over the place at the moment. FOUR for Harleen as she gets a lucky outside-edge past short-third. Shikha straightens the ball from length, a leg-cutter this time and nearly squares up Harleen.

Dayalan Hemalatha c †Bhatia b Pandey 5 (5b 1x4)

Kapp attempts to straighten one from the length and Harleen drags the ball across the line for a single. Kapp to Wolvaardt, OUT! Kapp cleans up the leg-stump. A superb delivery from Kapp straightens from length and beats Wolvaardt’s bat to hit the stumps.; The move doesn’t pay off for GG as the senior South Africa jolts them. Ash Gardner in at 4. Loud shout and given by the umpire! Kapp has two in two as she hits Gardner on the pads. GG goes up for a review. OUT! A golden duck for Gardner as three reds pop up on the big screen. Kapp’s on a hat-trick! Dayalan Hemalatha in at 5. Close as Kapp hits the target with an outswinger but Hemalatha pushes it out. A single to follow. Length from Kapp and Harleen nonchalantly flicks it through mid-wicket for FOUR.

Laura Wolvaardt b Kapp 1 (2b); Ashleigh Gardner lbw b Kapp 0 (1b)

Radha Yadav into the attack. Radha floats one in and Harleen steps out and lofts the ball over mid-off for FOUR. A slew of singles to follow and Radha completes a decent over.

Marizanne Kapp takes the new ball. Meghana on strike.

Full ball outside the off-stump and Meghana prods forward to push it back. Kapp to Meghana, OUT! Kapp yorks out Meghana with a perfect delivery in the blockhole. Meghana cannot dig that one out and Delhi strike in the first over. Beaten! Kapp lures Harleen forward with a gentle outswinger and beats the outside-edge. Harleen guides the last ball down to third and finds a single.

Sabbhineni Meghana b Kapp 0 (2b)

Sabbhineni Meghana and debutant Laura Wolvaardt walk out for the Gujarat Giants as Meg Lanning’s side takes the field.

Bold move from Gujarat to drop Sophia Dunkley after her swashbuckling 18-ball fifty in the previous game. However, Laura Wolvaardt has not been short of runs too. She had just scored a fifty in the exhibition tournament in Pakistan and had capped off the home T20 World Cup as the leading run-scorer. GG skipper Rana, however, did mention that it was just a case of match-ups on this particular night.

I think she (Meg Lanning) has been very deceptive, I think she’s a bowler’s captain. I have been picking up her brain in terms of experience, she has shown a lot of faith in all the bowlers, happy to be playing under her. I am happy to bowl with the new ball, as a new ball bowler you can get swing, but I haven’t been able to pick a lot of wickets. That’s something on my to-do list, hopefully I start doing that soon.

I know everyone in the Indian side. Here the environment is slightly more relaxed. I want to learn as much as I can from others (overseas players), that’s my priority. Trying to soak in the knowledge. I haven’t heard much of banter between the English players and the Australian players, it’s been good otherwise.

It was amazing to have the Women’s T20 World Cup at home, and in front of the home fans. All my family was present there, it was really motivating. And I’m glad that we could make it to the final. Very happy to be here. I am happy to bat anywhere, and grateful for the opportunity. Looking forward to learning as much as I can, just want to enjoy the experience and make a few friends.

Delhi Capitals XI: Meg Lanning(c), Shafali Verma, Laura Harris, Marizanne Kapp, Jemimah Rodrigues, Jess Jonassen, Taniya Bhatia(w), Minnu Mani, Radha Yadav, Shikha Pandey, Tara Norris

Gujarat Giants XI: Sabbhineni Meghana, Laura Wolvaardt, Harleen Deol, Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Sushma Verma(w), Dayalan Hemalatha, Sneh Rana(c), Kim Garth, Mansi Joshi, Tanuja Kanwar

TOSS: Gujarat wins the toss, opts to bat.

Sneh Rana: Sneh Rana: We would like to bat first on a fresh wicket. We have two changes, Laura and Georgia are in. It’s amazing for us that Laura has joined us, we are excited. It’s just the team combination for the particular day.

Meg Lanning: The wicket looks pretty similar, hopefully it plays well. We are going in with the smart option, Laura Harris comes in for Alice Capsey. Capsey has been unwell. It’s hard to get the combination right. Our batters have been okay, we need to work on that. Hopefully I can start well..

Meg Lanning and Sneh Rana are in the middle.

Pitch report: It is a fresg pitch with plenty of grass cover on it. It might be similar to the ones used before. The pacers need to bowl proper lines on this surface. 173 is the average score here.

Wicket-Keeper: Sushma Verma

Batters: Meg Lanning (vc), Laura Wolvaardt, Sophia Dunkley, Harleen Deol, Shafali Verma

All-Rounders: Marizanne Kapp, Ashleigh Gardner (c), Kim Garth, Alice Capsey

Bowlers: Jess Jonassen

Composition: GG 6:5 DC

DC: Meg Lanning (c), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Marizanne Kapp, Alice Capsey, Jess Jonassen, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Shikha Pandey, Radha Yadav, Tara Norris, Minnu Mani.

GG: Sophia Dunkley, S Meghana, Harleen Deol, Ash Gardner, D Hemalatha, Annabel Sutherland, Sneh Rana (c), Kim Garth, Sushma Verma (wk), Tanuja Kanwar, Mansi Joshi

Wolvaardt’s dramatic entrance seems to be just in the nick of time for the Giants.

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Gujarat Giants, after a stuttering start to its campaign, takes on an undeterred Delhi Capitals in the ninth match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) on Saturday at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai.

While the Giants won its previous match against RCB, it lost its opening two matches against the Mumbai Indians and UP Warriorz. Mumbai beat Gujarat by 143 runs after the latter fell like ninepins, chasing 208. Experienced batters like Ashleigh Gardner and Harleen Deol failed to open their accounts while the rest could manage single-digit scores. D. Hemalatha (28 off 23) was the lone exception.

Even though the Giants’ batters put up an improved show against the Warriorz, with Harleen scoring a quickfire 46 off 32, there emerged a familiar trope- the Gujarat batters misfired against the spinners.

With Sneh Rana taking over Gujarat’s captaincy from Beth Mooney, who has been ruled out of the tournament because of a calf injury, the Giants rose from the ashes against bottom-placed RCB. After an off day against the Warriorz, Sophia Dunkley scored the fastest fifty of the WPL, off just 18 balls. With Harleen also smashing 67, the Giants registered its first win of the WPL.

Meanwhile, the Giants would be delighted to have Laura Wolvaardt in the squad. It will give the top-order a much-needed cushioning.

In contrast, Delhi Capitals has been reaping the benefits of a splendid auction. The first match saw Capitals’ World Cup-winning captains — Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma — score 72 off 43 and 84 off 45, respectively, while Marizanne Kapp and Jemimah Rodrigues chipped in with 39 and 22, helping DC reach 223.

With its middle order in good form, DC piled on big scores in its game against UP Warriorz, despite Shafali falling early to Tahlia McGrath, with Rodrigues, Alice Capsey and Jess Jonassen helping the side to post a 200-plus total for the second successive time.

However, DC batters failed to sustain their momentum in their last match against Mumbai as a near-perfect bowling attack, led by the experienced spinner Saika Ishaque, did not allow them to capitalise on a good start given by Lanning. Saika took three wickets and received ample support from another spinner Hayley Matthews who helped bundle out DC for 105.

It is safe to say quality spin is an issue for the Capitals, and Gujarat’s bowlers would want to capitalise on that.

On the bowling front, the availability of USA pacer Tara Norris not only helps DC field five overseas players making use of the WPL’s policy but also gives it an edge.

Norris got a five-for in her first game, helping DC emerge victorious in its first match against RCB. In the following matches, however, experienced hands such as Shikha Pandey, Kapp, and Jonassen provided DC with crucial breakthroughs.

The Giants, meanwhile, will hope for a good show from its bowlers against DC because a win today would mean it is well on its way to the playoffs, despite losing two of its previous three matches.

As for DC, it may be an opportunity for the home girls Rodrigues and Hemalatha to get the big scores they have been building towards to close the gap with first placed -Mumbai Indians.

- Divyakriti Singh

GG vs DC squads

Delhi Capitals: Meg Lanning(c), Shafali Verma, Alice Capsey, Marizanne Kapp, Jemimah Rodrigues, Jess Jonassen, Taniya Bhatia(w), Minnu Mani, Radha Yadav, Shikha Pandey, Tara Norris, Poonam Yadav, Laura Harris, Arundhati Reddy, Jasia Akhtar, Aparna Mondal, Titas Sadhu, Sneha Deepthi

Gujarat Giants: Sabbhineni Meghana, Sophia Dunkley, Harleen Deol, Ashleigh Gardner, Dayalan Hemalatha, Annabel Sutherland, Sneh Rana(c), Kim Garth, Sushma Verma(w), Mansi Joshi, Tanuja Kanwar, Laura Wolvaardt, Georgia Wareham, Monica Patel, Ashwani Kumari, Hurley Gala, Shabnam Md Shakil, Parunika Sisodia

GG vs DC live streaming info

Where to watch live streaming of Gujarat Giants vs Delhi Capitals today?

Live streaming of Gujarat Giants vs Delhi Capitals will be available on Sports 18 Network/Jio.

What time will the GG vs DC match begin today?

The GG vs DC match will begin at 7:30 PM IST. The toss of the Gujarat Giants vs Delhi Capitals match will take place at 7:00 PM IST.