Devine, the New Zealand opener, pummelled the Giants' bowling attack for 99 in 36 balls, as RCB reached their 189-run target with four-and-a-half overs to spare
Mumbai: Gujarat Giants 188-4, Royal Challengers Bangalore 189-2 - Royal Challengers Bangalore 189-2 - Royal Challengers Bangalore won by eight wickets
Sophie Devine produced a remarkable display of sustained hitting as Royal Challengers Bangalore completed a crushing chase against Gujarat Giants.
Devine, the New Zealand opener, pummelled the Giants' bowling attack for 99 in 36 balls, as RCB reached their 189-run target with four-and-a-half overs to spare.
She smashed eight sixes and shared in a first-wicket partnership of 125 in 9.2 overs with Smriti Mandhana to render what had at first seemed a competitive Gujarat total wholly under-par.
Sophie Devine in action for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Gujarat Giants [screengrab/BCCI]
Devine fell agonisingly short of three figures but by the time she was dimissed - by Kim Garth - her side were only 32 runs shy of victory.
It was a chastening evening for the Giants' bowlers. Ash Gardner went for 48 in three overs, while the threebowled by Tanuja Kanwar were punished for 50.
Earlier, Laura Wolvaardt underpinned the Gujarat innings with her second half-century in three appearances in the WPL.
The South African opener contributed a 42-ball 68 to her side's total of 188 for 4.
Gardner (41 in 26 deliveries) and Sabbineni Meghana (a run-a-ball 31) provided useful support.
BOOM 💥
— Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) March 18, 2023
6️⃣4️⃣4️⃣6️⃣4️⃣@RCBTweets have crossed FIFTY in the fourth over 🔥🔥
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/uTxwwRnRxl#TATAWPL | #RCBvGG pic.twitter.com/8B18NN4TRI
In the end, though, it was nowhere near enough.
Bangalore, with two wins in as many matches, are making a late dash up the WPL table and now sit fourth, two points below third-placed UP Warriorz, who have a game in hand.
Gujarat slip into the bottom two, with Delhi Capitals qualifying for the post-season stage thanks to this result.