Vadodara, Jan 28 (NationPress) Captain of the Gujarat Giants, Ashleigh Gardner, referred to the nail-biting final over as an emotional roller-coaster, admitting that the tension soared as the match concluded with a thrilling three-run victory against the Delhi Capitals at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara.

In the penultimate over, Gardner conceded 19 runs, setting the stage for Sophie Devine to defend just nine runs. Devine showcased remarkable composure in the final over, preventing the Delhi Capitals from achieving the target, and clinching a riveting three-run victory for the Gujarat Giants, marking a successful season double. "It has been a roller coaster. We have obviously entertained the fans at the venue and on TV. My heart was racing during that last over," Gardner reflected post-match.

After posting a score of 174/9, the Gujarat team found themselves under pressure as the Delhi team entered the final over needing nine runs, with Sneh Rana and Niki Prasad at the crease.

The Gujarat Giants achieved a total of 174/9, largely thanks to a stellar innings from Beth Mooney, who scored an impressive 58 off 46 balls. Anushka Sharma added a significant 39 runs off 25 balls amidst the middle overs, complemented by Tanuja Kanwar’s quickfire unbeaten 21 runs off just 11 balls, which bolstered the Giants' competitive score.

Gardner acknowledged that the pitch seemed to favor the batters and believed that the Giants' score was around par. However, she admitted that her team allowed the Delhi Capitals to get back into the match after a strong bowling performance until the 17th over. "The wickets have improved progressively. Yesterday, 200 runs were almost chased down, and tonight it was nearly achieved as well. Between 170 and 180 was par. We bowled well until the 17th over but then let them back into the game.

The skipper emphasized the necessity for simplicity in execution, praising Sophie Devine’s crucial bowling spell and her adeptness at varying her pace, targeting the stumps, and leveraging a spinner-friendly pitch. "For our bowlers, we need to maintain simplicity. It’s vital to keep the team engaged for as long as possible. Finding the right lengths for variations is important. It was a spinner-friendly wicket, but Sophie was incredibly pivotal throughout her spell, adjusting her pace and targeting the stumps effectively," she stated.

With this victory, the Giants have ascended to second place in the points table, with a crucial match against the Mumbai Indians looming on Friday. They have struggled against this team in the past and will need to secure a win to qualify for the playoffs.

Looking forward, Gardner stressed the significance of consistency in tight games, stating that the Giants must quickly shift their focus to their upcoming challenge against Mumbai, a team they have historically had difficulties with. "We have experienced both victories and defeats in close matches. We need to be consistent. Winning that one game is crucial for our confidence heading into the playoffs. We play again soon, so we must redirect our focus to Mumbai; we don’t have a strong record against them."