RCB hit a tough target of 189 runs with 27 balls to spare, losing just two wickets and kept their playoff hopes alive with their second win in a row.
New Zealand’s Sophie Devine scored a 36-ball 99 as Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Gujarat Giants by eight wickets in their Women’s Premier League match on Saturday. Devine produced a fiery batting display that every spectator sitting in Brabourne Stadium would remember for years. RCB hit a tough target of 189 runs with 27 balls to spare, losing just two wickets and kept their playoff hopes alive with their second win in a row. Devine, who also played hockey for New Zealand before becoming a cricketer, hit eight sixes and nine fours in her innings.
Earlier, South African star batsman Laura Wolvaardt scored 68 runs off 42 balls and Gujarat Giants scored 188 runs for four wickets aided by 22 runs in the last over. Ashley Gardner also played a 41-run innings off 26 balls. Harleen Deol (12 not out) and D Hemlata (16 not out) crushed Megan Schutt with two sixes and two fours to score 22 runs in the final over. In response, RCB batted aggressively from the first over. Captain Smriti Mandhana (37) and Devine scored runs at a brisk pace. Devine hit spinner Tanuja Kanwar Kase over half-wicket for a six that traveled 94 metres.
RCB’s score was 125 unbeaten in the ninth over. Mandhana was sacked after scoring 37 runs off 31 balls. Devine’s run scoring continued from the other end, but unfortunately he fell within a century run of him. Kim Garth took him out for 99 but by then RCB’s victory was sealed. Earlier, Gujarat captain Sneh Rana won the toss and decided to bat. Sophia Dunkley and Wolvaardt started on a positive note scoring two fours each in the first two overs.
Devine dropped Dunkley in the third over to give Gujarat the first strike. From the other end, however, Wolvaardt went on to score runs and hit two more fours to bring the team’s score to 40 in the fifth over. Ellyse Perry conceded just one run from the first five balls of the first over, but then missed a four. The leg-spinning Asha Shobhana also bowled a cheap first over, conceding just five runs. S Meghna took time to settle but struck Preeti Bose for her first cap in the eighth over.
Bose broke the 63-run partnership between Meghna and Wolvaardt when Richa Ghosh stumped Meghna. Ashley Gardner came on and hit Asha with six long overs. At the other extreme, Wolvaardt completed his half century in 35 balls. He touched this figure by beating Perry for a six over midwicket. After this, he hit a six and a four on the shot. Shreyanka Patil ended her innings by catching Bose in the middle of the short wicket. Patil also sent Gardner to the pavilion.
Disclaimer:Prabhasakshi has not edited this news. This news has been published from PTI-language feed.