Sophie Devine's 95 and Clutch Final Over Win WPL Thriller

Sometimes one athlete can completely take over a game, and Sophie Devine just reminded the world why she's considered one of cricket's most explosive players.

The New Zealand captain put on a show at Navi Mumbai's DY Patil Stadium on Saturday, smashing eight sixes in her devastating 95-run innings that helped Gujarat Giants post 209 runs. But her day wasn't done yet.

With Delhi Capitals needing just 7 runs off the final over to win, Devine stepped up to bowl what would become the match-defining moment. She mixed slower balls with perfect precision, dismissing captain Jemimah Rodrigues and South African star Laura Wolvaardt to seal an improbable victory for her team.

Wolvaardt had looked unstoppable with her 77 runs, and Lizelle Lee had smashed 86, bringing Delhi within touching distance of the second-highest successful chase in Women's Premier League history. The match swung wildly in both directions, with fans barely able to keep up with the momentum shifts.

Gujarat's innings had its own dramatic finale when Chandigarh bowler Nandni Sharma grabbed a hat-trick on the final three balls, finishing with five wickets to restrict what could have been an even bigger total. Her clever slower deliveries included the prized scalp of Devine herself.

Why This Inspires

Women's cricket continues to deliver the kind of edge-of-your-seat entertainment that proves the sport's incredible growth. Just two years ago, the Women's Premier League didn't exist, and now it's producing moments that rival any cricket match in the world.

The quality on display speaks volumes about how investment in women's sports creates opportunities for athletes to shine on the biggest stages. Devine's all-round brilliance, the high-scoring shootout, and the packed stadium all point to a sport that's captivating new audiences every season.

Perhaps the most telling moment came from fielder Anushka Sharma, who saved four crucial runs with an acrobatic boundary save in the 19th over. Gujarat won by exactly four runs, meaning that single play changed the entire outcome.

For Gujarat Giants, it's two wins from two matches to start their 2026 campaign, both coming after posting over 200 runs. For Delhi Capitals, losing two close games in two days will sting, but both teams showed the kind of attacking cricket that makes the WPL must-watch entertainment.

Women's cricket is having its moment, and performances like Devine's prove the future is incredibly bright.