Deol guides Giants to victory over Capitals
- Published
India's Harleen Deol hit an unbeaten 70 as she guided Gujarat Giants to a five-wicket win over Delhi Capitals in the Women's Premier League.
Former Australia captain Meg Lanning's 92 had provided the bulk of the Capitals' 177-5 as she plundered 15 fours and one six.
Lanning and Shafali Verma, who hit three sixes in a breezy 40, had shared a stand of 83 for the first wicket in nine overs in Lucknow.
However, the remainder of the Capitals top order could not get going as Meghna Singh claimed 3-35 and Deandra Dottin 2-37.
Australia's Beth Mooney got the Giants' reply off to a solid start as she Deol put on 85 for the second wicket before the former was snared for 44 by Minnu Mani's off-spin.
Deol kept her composure during the chase, though, as Giants skipper Ash Gardner and Dottin chipped in with 22 and 24 respectively before they were dismissed by Jess Jonassen (2-38).
The Giants still needed 13 off the last seven balls but any nerves where eased when Kashvee Gautam clubbed the final delivery of the penultimate over from Shikha Pandey for six.
Deol then whipped the first ball of the final over - bowled by Jonassen - for four before Gautam got the Giants over the line with three balls to spare.
Table-topping Delhi have now completed all their games and face a nervous wait to see if they will qualify for the final automatically, with third-placed Mumbai Indians able to overhaul their total of 10 points with victory in their final two matches.
Gujarat could also finish top if they beat Mumbai in their final match and finish with a superior net run-rate.
