Renuka Singh Thakur. (Photo Source: Twitter/WPL)
The action in the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League continued on March 8 (Wednesday) as Gujarat Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore went up against each other searching for their first win. Giants captain Sneh Rana won the toss and elected to bat first at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
The Giants didn’t get off to the best of the starts as they lost opening batter Sabbhineni Meghana for just 8 on the score of 22. However, her partner Sophia Dunkley came out all guns blazing and ripped apart the RCB bowling attack. Dunkley scored the fastest fifty in WPL off just 18 balls and got involved in a 60-run stand with Harleen Deol for the second wicket.
She was finally dismissed for 65 off 28 balls smashing 11 fours and three sixes in her innings. Following her dismissal, Harleen Deol took the innings forward as she put on 53 runs for the third wicket with Ashleigh Gardner in 35 balls.
As Harleen held one end, other batters came and played useful cameos to take Gujarat past 200. They finished their innings on 201/7 in their allotted 20 overs as Harleen scored 67 off 45 balls. Shreyanka Patil and Heather Knight picked up two wickets each for RCB.
RCB batters couldn’t keep up with the required run rate
In reply, RCB openers Smriti Mandhana and Sophie Devine gave a good start adding 54 runs for the first wicket in 32 balls. Mandhana once again failed to get going and perished on 18 against Gardner. Following her dismissal, Ellyse Perry joined Devine at the crease and the duo added 43 runs for the second wicket in 33 balls.
However, they couldn’t keep up with the required run rate and Perry fell for 32 off 25 trying to take on the Gujarat bowlers. However, Devine continued her innings and scored 66 off 45 balls. She was dismissed when the team was on 141 after 16.2 overs as RCB required 61 more to win from 22 balls.
Heather Knight tried her best to take her team home with her knock of 30* off 11 balls but too much was left to be done in the final over. As a result, RCB ended their innings on 190/6 handing Gujarat Giants a win by 11 runs. Ashleigh Gardner was the pick of the bowlers for Gujarat as she recorded 3/31 in four overs.
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