Vadodara, Jan 28 (NationPress) The captain of the Delhi Capitals, Jemimah Rodrigues, expressed admiration for the remarkable composure and bravery displayed by Sneh Rana and Niki Prasad during a nail-biting finish. She acknowledged that it was disappointing to come up just three runs short against the Gujarat Giants at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara.

Sophie Devine maintained her poise in a thrilling final over, successfully defending nine runs to secure a dramatic three-run victory for the Giants, marking a season double.

The duo of Rana (29 off 15) and Prasad (47 off 24) formed an impressive seventh-wicket partnership of 70 runs, sparking a glimmer of hope for Delhi. However, Devine’s expert performance at the death — having previously defended seven runs against the same side — ensured that the Gujarat Giants clinched another tense win. “First of all, I must commend the way Sneh Rana and Niki played; it was truly special. Although it would have been nice to finish on the right side of the line,” Rodrigues stated post-match.

Rodrigues highlighted that the faith within the Capitals' camp remained intact as long as the batters were at the crease. She praised Rana and Prasad for their fearless approach that kept the chase alive. “As long as we knew our batters were in, there was hope, and we continued to believe. Niki played exceptionally well. They were the ones who kept us in the game. We didn’t win today, but their performance was outstanding,” she added.

Delhi's innings began promisingly with Shafali Verma hitting a boundary off the first ball, quickly reaching 26 in just 2.2 overs before Rajeshwari Gayakwad dismissed her in the opening over.

Laura Wolvaardt struggled to find her rhythm again, making 24 off 23 balls before falling to Gayakwad, who then took Lizelle Lee's wicket for a mere 11 off 20 balls.

Jemimah Rodrigues managed 16 off 16 balls before being bowled by Devine, and the Capitals' chase further stumbled when Marizanne Kapp was dismissed for a golden duck by Gardner. Chinelle Henry contributed only 9 off 11 balls, leaving Delhi in a precarious position.

In reflecting on the defeat, the skipper felt that Delhi paid for losing wickets in clusters and allowing extra runs towards the end, despite a strong bowling performance earlier in the innings. “I believe we did quite well with the ball. In the last few overs, we gave away 10-15 extra runs. We needed partnerships from all the top-order batters. The way those two batted was truly special,” Rodrigues commented.

Delhi is set to face the UP Warriorz in their last league match on February 1, which will be crucial for their tournament aspirations. “That game is going to be significant. It’s vital for us to regroup. We are still in the tournament, and we will continue to fight,” she concluded.