Gujarat Giants earn first WPL points in win over RCB

Sophia Dunkley top-scored for Gujarat with a rapid half century as Royal Challengers Bangalore's star-studded side was beaten again

Nick Friend | 08/03/2023 at 18:03

Mumbai: Gujarat Giants 201-7, Royal Challengers Bangalore 190-6 - Gujarat Giants win by 11 runs

Gujarat Giants have their first points of the Women's Premier League on the board after beating Royal Challengers Bangalore, who have lost all three of their matches so far.

In yet another high-scoring encounter, a rapid half century from Sophia Dunkley, whose 65 came off 28 balls, set up an 11-run victory for Gujarat.

Dunkley dominated the powerplay, taking down Megan Schutt, Renuka Singh Thakur and left-arm spinner Preeti Bose, to lay the foundations for her teammates to follow.

The England opener eventually holed out to long-off, but Harleen Deol took on the responsibility and her 67 guided her franchise to a total of 201 for 7, with Ash Gardner, Dayalan Hemalatha and Annabel Sutherland contributing lively cameos as RCB struggled to stem the flow.

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^{Heather Knight fought hard at the end with 30 not out in 11 balls (Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)}

On a typically excellent surface in this competition of big runs, Bangalore were never out of the run-chase, though.

Sophie Devine top-scored with 66 and dominated a 54-run opening stand with Smriti Mandhana, before Ellyse Perry (32), Richa Ghosh (10) and Kanika Ahuja (10) all fell after making starts.

Heather Knight did her best to turn that situation into an unlikely win – the England captain made an unbeaten 30 off just 11 balls – but she ran out of time despite taking down Sutherland at the death to threaten a grandstand finish, which ultimately didn't come.