Gujarat Giants captain Ashleigh Gardner acknowledged her team’s slow start with the ball cost them in a seven-wicket loss to Delhi Capitals. Despite posting 168/7, Gujarat struggled as Delhi’s Lizelle Lee and Shafali Verma dominated the powerplay, setting the tone for the chase. Gardner highlighted missed execution and the challenge of maintaining pressure under dewy conditions as key factors in their defeat.
Reflecting on the match, Gardner praised Beth Mooney for stabilizing Gujarat’s innings after early setbacks and emphasized the team’s growth and balance. She commended young Indian talent like Anushka Sharma and experienced players like Rajeshwari Gayakwad for their contributions. Despite the loss, Gardner expressed pride in the team’s progress and emphasized the need to learn from the experience.
Delhi maintained control throughout the chase, with Jemimah Rodrigues and Laura Wolvaardt guiding them to victory. While Georgia Wareham briefly revived Gujarat’s hopes with two wickets, Gardner admitted her team couldn’t sustain the momentum. She highlighted the need for consistent performance over extended periods, especially in crucial moments.
Gardner also pointed out the importance of retaining the core group for future campaigns and aiming to improve upon their performance next season. With this defeat, Gujarat’s promising campaign in the WPL came to an end, while Delhi secured a spot in the final for the fourth consecutive time.
