GG 201/7 beats RCB 190/6 by 11 runs - GG-W vs RCB-W Highlights WPL 2023: Dunkley, Deol shine; Gujarat beats Bangalore

Sophie Devine’s valiant half-century goes in vain as Gujarat Giants hold their nerve to notch first points on the board with a tense win over Royal Challengers Bangalore. Sneh Rana with an injury led the side brilliantly as Bangalore continue to search for their elusive win in the tournament. Heather Knight played a cameo at the end but that was just not enough.

Kanika Ahuja is playing a nice little cameo and RCB also went for a no-ball height review, which was turned down. Sneh Rana, battling pain has bowled a good over, given the situation and most importantly has kept Knight out of the strike. Gujarat still can close this but with Knight and Kanika striking clean, RCB has a chance.

Devine smoked Sutherland for a maximum over the deep mid-wicket and then Sutherland bounces back in style by removing Devine as the opener smashed one straight into the hands of Gardner at long-on and that was a massive wicket. Knight, meanwhile found a couple of boundaries by opening the face of the bat and guiding the ball past the rope as Sutherland got her yorker wrong. 23 runs from Sutherland’s over and Knight has kept RCB in the hunt.

Gardner dents RCB’s run chase as she castles Richa Ghosh and the game is gradually slipping away from RCB’s grasp. Heather Knight is in business straightaway with a couple of boundaries as RCB needs 67 runs from 24 balls. A big over and things can change dramatically for RCB.

Devine launches Kanwar high and wide over the long-on boundary and the RCB opener has decided to attack the spinner with the required rate creeping up steadily. Kanwar does well to bounce back and keep Ghosh quiet as the RCB wicket-keeper went for a couple of big heaves but failed to connect.

Richa Ghosh with a couple of boundaries has ignited hope in the Bangalore camp and with Devine in the middle, RCB still has got a chance to stun Gujarat. The next 20 minutes will be very interesting as Devine will go for the kill.

Sophie Devine hits a brilliant half-century and has held one end of the innings. The RCB opener reaches to the landmark in 36 balls but the job hasn’t been finished. RCB needs 96 runs from 42 balls.

Bangalore cracks under pressure as Perry hits straight to the fielder at short third man and that’s the pressure that the Gujarat bowlers have built. RCB needs 105 runs from 48 balls and this is going to be very tough with Devine at the crease. Top bowling from Gujarat and Mansi Joshi has her first.

Top over from Tanuja Kanwar as she gives just six and the boundaries have dried up for Bangalore. Devine and Perry are struggling to connect and Gujarat is rushing through the overs with RCB needing 114 from 54 balls.

Sneh Rana with a heavy strapping is leading from the front as the spinner despite getting hit has kept the Bangalore batters quiet as she concedes just a boundary to keep her side ahead in the game. Big hits the need of the hour for Bangalore.

The required rate is 11.63 rpo against the current run rate of 8.22 and although RCB has lost just one wicket, they need to make a move on with Sophie Devine well-set and batting unbeaten on 35 in the company of Ellyse Perry who is batting on 16 off 13 balls. Gujarat can’t be complacent as it needs wickets and the wicket of Devine will be key. An assault will lift Bangalore, a wicket will shift the momentum towards Gujarat. Time-out!

Sneh Rana is being introduced into the attack and the right-arm off-spinner starts well giving just four runs in her opening over. Devine and Perry have a job in their hands with the partnership at 12 and RCB needs some big hits to bring the required rate down. It’s Devine who has to play a blinder.

Excellent over from Tanuja Kanwar as she gives just three from her second over and the pressure is clearly on Bangalore after the fall of Smriti. The spinner has fired in some quick ones, bowling stump to stump and Gujarat is rushing in with the overs.

Ashleigh Gardner has once again got Smriti Mandhana and that’s a very important breakthrough for Gujarat. Stat Alert - It’s the seventh time that Gardner has got Smriti and that’s some record! The RCB captain went for a big booming drive only to miscue it and her weakness against off-spinners continues. RCB loses its skipper inside the PowerPlay as Ellyse Perry joins Devine.

Sophie Devine is on a mission and almost knocked off Sutherland’s head with a forehand jab as the fifty-run partnership is up between the New Zealander and Smriti. This is a lovely start from Bangalore in chase of 202 and the openers have gone about their business with aplomb, taking minimum risks and piercing the gaps at ease. Quality batting from the Bangalore openers.

Bangalore is going at exactly 10 runs per over and this is exactly the kind of start they wanted. Smriti is lucky to be there in the middle as a miscommunication almost packed her off the field but Gujarat failed to latch on to the chance. Devine is timing the ball well and both batswomen have been rotating the strike well and even finding the boundaries.

Right from the meat of the bat and Smriti shows her class by exhibiting a gorgeous cover drive, driving Garth on the up as the ball races away to the fence. Both Devine and Smriti seem to have come up with a game plan and having got off to a good start, the openers will now look to attack and finish the PowerPlay on a high.

Tanuja Kanwar into the attack and Smriti attacks the left-arm spinner straightaway by smashing a couple of boundaries. Kanwar has been daring in her approach as she isn’t afraid to pitch the ball up to Smriti and a heave almost got the spinner the wicket of the RCB skipper but the ball landed just in front of the fielder at long-off. Pressure of scoring runs inside the PowerPlay.

Smriti Mandhana and Sophie Devine are off the mark and Bangalore needs a bright start in chase of a mammoth total. The wicket is good for batting but the openers have to get off to a blazing start and make full use of the PowerPlay.

“It is a really nice batting wicket. 200 is a pretty good score but RCB have some good players, so we need to keep them quiet. (On fastest fifty) It feels good, I was looking to be positive and get the team a good start. It might be hard to defend given the way the tournament has been going for us, but we’ve got a good bowling attack so we back ourselves to win.”

Superb batting show from Gujarat Giants as they rode on Sophia Dunkley’s 18-ball fifty and then Harleen Deol pressed on the accelerator with a 45-ball 67 to power Gujarat to an imposing 201 for the loss of seven wickets. Remember, a total in excess of 200 hasn’t been chased in WPL and this total will test the character of the famed RCB batting line-up led by Smriti Mandhana. Back for the chase in a bit.

Couple of wickets in the penultimate over as Sutherland falls and so does Sneh Rana. Good part is Deol is still out there in the middle as Gujarat targets the 200-run mark.

Sutherland is scoring some useful runs and with Deol having reached her half-century, Gujarat will be pressing on the accelerator and try to cross the 200-run mark with two more overs to go.

Harleen Deol smashes a brilliant 35-ball half-century and this has been an innings of substance and pure quality as she gets to the landmark with a boundary. The drives down the ground and getting her subtle wrists into play, Deol has dazzled at the Brabourne Stadium. Annabel Sutherland then pulls Perry for a maximum as Gujarat inches towards the 200-run mark.

Heather Knight picks her second wicket and that’s an important wicket as she ends a wonderful cameo from Hemalatha, who falls for a 7-ball 16. Deol, however is in the middle and is closing in on what would be a brilliant half-century. She will look to stay till the end and take Gujarat past the 200-run mark.

Dayalan Hemalatha comes to the party by smashing Preeti Bose for a maximum. Gets down on one knee and sweeps the spinner high and well over the deep mid-wicket boundary. Bose continues to be expensive as Hemalatha dispatches the spinner to the boundary twice as Bose gives away 47 runs in her three overs.

Heather Knight with the breakthrough and the spinner has broken the fifty-run stand by dismissing Gardner who falls for a 15-ball 19. It was a simple stumping for Ghosh as Gardner skipped down the track only to miss it and walk back.

The partnership is worth 46 and Deol is batting on 40 with Gardner playing the role of a supporter. Preeti Bose has been very expensive leaking 31 runs in 2 overs and Bangalore needs to break this partnership to halt Gujarat from posting an imposing total on board.

Deol is playing a gem of a knock and with a gentle flick of the wrists, she dispatches Schutt into the deep square leg boundary and then pockets a boundary with a fierce pull. This is sheer class as Deol is not trying to whack the ball but is relying on pure timing and is oozing class. This is such soothing to watch as the glorious drives on either side of the wicket are in exhibition. Deol on top gear.

Deol is looking in good touch as she sweeps Renuka Singh through the square carpet and then Gardner gets away with a streaky boundary as runs continue to flow for Gujarat. The run-rate is close to 10 rpo and the 100 is already up for Gujarat with another nine overs to go. Should be a huge total if they carry on with the same momentum.

Shreyanka Patil is bowling well and the spinner has grown in confidence after dismissing Dunkley. The line has been good and she has been varying her speeds well, not giving the batswomen too much width and attack her. Deol and Gardner will look to carry on with the momentum.

Harleen Deol has taken over the mantle from Dunkley as after watching a batting exhibition from the other end, Deol frees her arms and nonchalantly lofts Peryy to the long-on boundary as Gujarat motors on. Ashleigh Gardner joins Deol.

Shreyanka Patil gets her maiden wicket in the WPL and she dismisses the dangerous Dunkley who was running away with the game. It was brave from the youngster to toss the ball to Dunkley, inviting the Gujarat opener to go for the big shot and she fell for the prey and hit it straight to the fielder at long-off. She can’t believe but credit to Shreyanka for not getting intimidated and sticking to her plan. The move has worked, Bangalore has Dunkley and now will look to crawl back into the game after being smacked by the English batter, who smashed the fastest fifty in the WPL.

Some respite for Bangalore as Renuka Singh pulls back an economical over conceding just a boundary and this time it was Deol who smashed one through the covers. Bangalore had a long chat during the time-out and Smriti will be ringing in some changes.

What a fanstastic PowerPlay from Gujarat and all thanks to Sophia Dunkley who has smashed the fastest fifty in the WPL and is batting unbeaten on 54 off 22 balls with 10 boundaries and two sixes. This is also the highest PowerPlay score in the WPL and Bangalore will need to find a solution to stop the rampage. Harleen Deol is just a mere spectator as it’s the Dunkley show that is currently on at the Brabourne Stadium. 64 runs in PowerPlay and Gujarat in hot seat!

Take a bow Sophia Dunkley as she hits an 18-ball fifty - the fastest in the inaugural edition of the WPL as she eclipses Harmanpreet Kaur’s record in 22 balls. This is some batting exhibition as the opener has torn apart Preeti Bose by smacking the spinner for 23 runs in an over that included four boundaries and a maximum. Phew! that was some hitting and Bangalore is currently chasing leather.

Sophia Dunkley with a brilliant counter-attacking ploy has nullified the early impact that Schutt made as the opener has raced away to 28 off just 13 balls with five boundaries and six. Renuka Singh bore the brunt of Dunkley with an inside out loft over the extra cover region that went for a maximum being the pick of the shot. Gujarat back on track despite losing Meghana early.

Megan Schutt provides the breakthrough as she removes Meghana who falls early after playing a couple of beautiful drives. This time, the opener tried to play a cut shot but ended up offering a simple catch to the wicket-keeper and that’s the kind of start Bangalore was eyeing.

Dunkley gets a move on as she takes a single and then attacks Perry with a boundary and although it wasn’t convincing, Gujarat won’t mind how the runs are coming. Meghana too opens her account with a boundary and she will hold the key for a bright start.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/nqrcB3DfuOA

Megan Schutt starts in a brilliant fashion as she bowls a maiden with Sabbhineni Meghana playing out all the six deliveries and failing to pierce through the tight off-side ring. This is a good start from Bangalore.

RCB Women sprint off as they enter the field hoping to restrict Gujarat to as little as possible and out walk the Gujarat openers - Dunkley and Meghana. It will be Megan Schutt who will start proceedings with the new ball. It’s match time!

Smriti Mandhana(c), Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry, Heather Knight, Richa Ghosh(w), Poonam Khemnar, Kanika Ahuja, Shreyanka Patil, Megan Schutt, Renuka Thakur Singh, Preeti Bose

Sabbhineni Meghana, Sophia Dunkley, Harleen Deol, Annabel Sutherland, Sushma Verma(w), Ashleigh Gardner, Dayalan Hemalatha, Sneh Rana(c), Kim Garth, Mansi Joshi, Tanuja Kanwar

Gujarat Giants wins toss, opts to bat first against Royal Challengers Bangalore

Both teams are in the park with players warming up on the sidelines. Smriti Mandhana will be eyeing to guide her team to the first win in the tournament.

Smriti Mandhana (c), Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry, Disha Kasat, Richa Ghosh(w), Heather Knight, Kanika Ahuja, Megan Schutt, Shreyanka Patil, Preeti Bose/Sahana Pawar, Renuka Thakur Singh/Komal Zanzad

Sabbhineni Meghana, Sophia Dunkley, Sushma Verma (wk), Ashleigh Gardner, Dayalan Hemalatha, Annabel Sutherland, Harleen Deol, Sneh Rana (c), Kim Garth, Mansi Joshi, Tanuja Kanwar

Wicket-keeper - Richa Ghosh

Batter - H Knight (C) S Devine S Mandhana D Hemalatha

All-Rounder- A Gardner A Sutherland S Rana E Perry

Bowler- S Patil M Schutt

Beth Mooney (c), Ashleigh Gardner, Sophia Dunkley, Annabelle Sutherland, Harleen Deol, S. Meghana, Georgia Wareham, Mansi Joshi, D. Hemlatha, Monica Patel, Tanuja Kanwer, Sneh Rana (vc), Sushma Verma, Hurley Gala, Ashwani Kumari, Parunika Sisodia, Shabnam MD, Kim Garth

Smriti Mandhana (c), Renuka Singh, Ellyse Perry, Sophie Divine, Richa Ghosh, Erin Burns, Diksha Kasat, Indrani Roy, Shreyanka Patil, Kanika Ahuja, Asha Shibana, Heather Knight, Dane van Niekerk, Preeti Bose, Poonam Khemnar, Megan Schutt, Sahana Pawar

The BCCI has decided to open doors to all fans for free to mark International Women’s Day, observed worldwide on March 8.