WPL 2023, Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Gujarat Giants, Match 16: Best memes from the game

Sophie Devine scored 99 off just 36 balls to notch up the highest-ever score by any RCB batter in WPL 2023.

Published - 18 Mar 2023, 23:01 IST | Updated - 18 Mar 2023, 22:08 IST

11 Min Read

Royal Challengers Bangalore pulled off a memorable win over Gujarat Giants in the 16th match of the Women's Premier League 2023 on Saturday, March 18. Laura Wolvaardt's 68 off 42 helped Giants score 188/4 while batting first. But New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine played one of the most destructive knocks of the tournament by smashing 99 off just 36 deliveries to help Royal Challengers accomplish the target in just 15.3 overs.

Earlier, Sneh Rana had won the toss for Gujarat Giants and elected to bat first at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium. In a big change for Royal Challengers, Preeti Bose was called back to the playing XI with the struggling Renuka Singh being dropped for the must-win game. Giants also made one change with all-rounder Sabbhineni Meghana coming in to replace Mansi Joshi.

English batter Sophia Dunkley gave Giants a quick start by smashing two fours in the opening over but was bowled out by Sophie Devine in the third over after scoring 16 off 10. Laura Wolvaardt continued her red-hot form with a big 63-run stand with Sabbhineni for the second wicket. Sabbhineni scored 31 off 32 deliveries before getting out on Preeti's delivery in the 12th over.

But, Wolvaardt went on to smash her second consecutive WPL fifty to keep Giants on track for a big total. She top-scored with 68 off 42 before getting caught out on Shreyanka Patil's delivery in the 17th over. Ashleigh Gardner then carried the momentum by smashing 41 off just 26 balls as Gujarat Giants eventually ended their innings on a score of 188 after the completion of the stipulated 20 overs.

Chasing a mammoth 189-run target, Sophie Devine went ballistic right from the word go. She smashed two sixes and three fours off Gardner in the second over to make her intentions clear. Captain Smriti Mandhana also paced the game with some early big shots.

The duo pulled off a 125-run stand within the first ten overs for the opening wicket to ensure an early win for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Devine brought up her fifty in just 20 balls as she tore apart Giants' bowling attack. Rana gave Giants their first breakthrough in the 10th over with Smriti's wicket who scored 37 off 31.

But, Devine continued to power big shots all around the stadium. She was unfortunate to miss on her century as Kim Garth dismissed Devine when the latter was just one run short of a well-deserved century. Devine scored 99 off just 36 deliveries with the help of nine fours and eight sixes.

Ellyse Perry and Heather Knight then ensured an easy eight-wicket win for Royal Challengers Bangalore. The win propelled Royal Challengers to the fourth position in the WPL points table while Giants stumbled to the bottom with four points after seven games.