Under skipper Ash Gardner, Women's Premier League side Gujarat Giants have overcome mid-season stumbles to sit on the brink of a top two finish in the elite Indian competition.
Gujarat survived a final over thriller against Delhi Capitals overnight, with three-run victory seeing the Giants climb to second spot with one game remaining ahead of playoffs.
Despite missing out with the bat, Gardner was instrumental in the field.
With Niki Prasad (47) requiring a boundary from the final ball to snatch victory, Gardner held on in the deep to seal the Giants' victory.
Player of the match Sophie Devine kept things tight with the ball to deny a fast-finishing Capitals, who needed nine from the final six deliveries.
𝗦𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗲! 🫡
🎥 She is ice cool under pressure yet again to help @Giant_Cricket clinch a thriller 🧊
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/73Ec3xR5A6 #TATAWPL | #KhelEmotionKa | #GGvDC pic.twitter.com/kbdAKnUaKP
— Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) January 27, 2026
Posting 9/174 in the first innings, led by Australian teammate Beth Mooney (58) and young gun Anushka Sharma (39) at the top of the order, Gardner's side held out to stay within touching distance of ladder leaders Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
The Muruwari allrounder took four catches and sent South African Marizanne Kapp back to the pavilion for a golden duck before finishing with 1/37 (4).
Her wicket came at a crucial period with the Capitals 3-83 with 9 overs remaining in their innings.
Gardner had gone for 20 off the second last over of the match before Devine's effort at the death.
With it, the Giants claimed their fourth win ahead of a final regular season outing against Mumbai Indians early on Saturday morning, Australian eastern time.
"We obviously entertained the fans, obviously both here at the venue and on TV. So we did our job with that, but certainly my heart rate was going through the roof through that last over," Gardner told the broadcast post-match.
Gardner said keeping things simple with the ball was proving key to the Giants ability to successfully defending totals.
"I think we bowled well for about 17 overs, and then obviously let them back in right at the end there," she said of the nailbiter over Delhi, adding "I think for us bowlers, we just need to keep it really simple. I feel like when you over complicate bowling, that's when it doesn't work".
"Being able to celebrate tonight is fantastic. But we play in a couple days time, so we need to switch our focus to Mumbai. Who we don't have an amazing record against.
"Hopefully we can change that to go into finals with a lot of confidence."
Success against Mumbai will confirm a spot in the three-team playoffs.
The Indians and Capitals currently sit a win behind the Giants in third and fourth.
Gardner will be hoping to resurrect her early-tournament form with the bat.
After posting 65 and 49 in back-to-back wins to start the campaign, the 28-year-old has gone beyond single digits just once in her most recent four digs - an unrewarded 54 in a 61-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Scores of two and five followed in more recent wins, launching the Giants' push for a maiden spot in the competition final.
Mumbai Indians successfully chased 193 with seven wickets in hand in their previous meeting with the Giants a fortnight ago.
