Sophie Devine lit up the Mumbai skyline with an astonishing 36-ball 99 as Royal Challengers Bangalore made brief work of a 189-run goal for an eight-wicket victory over Gujarat Giants within the Women’s Premier League in Mumbai on Saturday. It rained sixes from the broad willow of Devine as RCB breezed previous the goal with as many as 27 balls to spare and maintain their slim playoff hopes alive with a second successive victory. Devine, who has additionally represented New Zealand in hockey earlier than beginning out in cricket as a bowler typically batting at quantity 11, performed an innings that may go down as one of many most interesting within the historical past of the T20 format.

During her keep within the center, Devine struck eight towering sixes and 9 fours.

Earlier, South Africa’s star batter Laura Wolvaardt top-scored with a scintillating 42-ball 68 earlier than a 22-run ultimate over powered Gujarat Giants to 188 for 4.

Ashleigh Gardner (41 off 26 balls) additionally performed a brisk knock earlier than Harleen Deol (12 not out) and Dayalan Hemalatha (16 not out) ended GG’s innings by smashing a clueless Megan Schutt for 2 sixes and two fours.

Chasing a stiff goal, RCB have been off to a rollicking begin with the opening duo of skipper Smriti Mandhana (37) and Sophie Devine sending the GG bowlers on a leather-based hunt with their breathtaking batting.

While there have been innumerable sixes and fours, the spotlight was Devine’s most in opposition to left-arm spinner Tanuja Kanwar, smoking her over the midwicket for the match’s largest six at 94 metres.

A 4 and two extra sixes adopted from the willow of Devine as RCB raced to 125 for no loss in solely the ninth over.

This was an over after the New Zealander Devine smashed Harleen Deol for an 86-metre six over to convey up her half-century off a mere 20 balls.

The 100 was up within the eighth over and what regarded like an imposing whole originally of the RCB innings now regarded very a lot inside attain.

While Mandhana, who additionally meted out harsh remedy to Kanwar by hitting her for a six and two fours in an 18-run first over, obtained out after 37-ball 31, there was no stopping Devine as she punished Ashwani Kumari with a six and a 4.

Finally, it was Kim Garth who introduced an finish to Devine’s knock, however by then, she had already paced the best way for RCB’s victory.

Earlier, batting first after Sneh Rana gained the toss, each Sophia Dunkley and Laura Wolvaardt confirmed optimistic intent at first, hitting two boundaries every within the first two overs.

However, a ball after pulling Sophie Devine over midwicket for a 4, Dunkley’s leg stump was knocked over after the batter had shuffled throughout an excessive amount of to play the news shot over high-quality leg to a superb size supply.

Unperturbed by the setback, Wolvaardt regarded to manage the innings and located the fence two extra instances to take GG to 40 for one in 5 overs.

Introduced into the assault, Ellyse Perry began on a high-quality be aware and gave away only a single off her first 5 balls, earlier than she conceded a boundary off a half-volley on the Brabourne Stadium. Nevertheless, it was a superb over by Perry.

Leg-spinner Asha Shobana too bowled a tidy first over, conceding, like Perry, solely 5 runs.

Having obtained her eye in after spending a while within the center, Sabbhineni Meghana broke the shackles with a boundary off Preeti Bose’s first supply off the eighth over. However, Bose got here again effectively and gave away 4 runs in her subsequent 5 balls.

Bose broke the 63-run partnership between Meghana and Wolvaardt when the bowler had the Indian batter stumped by Richa Ghosh in what regarded like a lazy dismissal.

Ashleigh Gardner walked in and she or he meant enterprise straightaway, hitting Asha for a six over long-on whilst Wolvaardt, on the different finish, continued to build up runs and reached her half-century off 35 balls, reaching the mark with a six over midwicket in opposition to Perry.

Wolvaardt then launched into Megan Schutt, smashing her for a six and a 4, however Shreyanka Patil introduced an finish to her innings when the South African hit a low full toss straight to Bose at brief midwicket.

Gardner then took it upon herself to complete GG’s innings on a excessive be aware, hitting a flurry of fours earlier than getting out lbw to Patil.

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