The action returned on Wednesday in the inaugural edition of the Women’s T20 League, with the winless Bangalore taking on UP in the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. After winning the toss and deciding to bowl first, the Bangalore team dropped a masterful bowling performance led by Bangalore’s MVP so far, Ellyse Perry. UP was bowled out for 135 with three balls remaining as Perry picked up three wickets, conceding just 16 runs in her four overs.
Alongside Perry, Sophie Devine and Sobhana Asha also extended their best efforts with the ball as both returned with two wickets. On the other hand, Megan Schutt and Shreyanka Patil returned with one wicket apiece as Bangalore put curtains on to a great team effort with the ball.
Kanika Ahuja was the star in Bangalore's run chase
Bangalore’s start was yet again disastrous, with skipper Smriti Mandhana flopping like numerous times before in the season. She went out for a three-ball duck as her co-opener, Sophie Devine, could only manage 14 off the six balls she faced. Ellyse Perry was the next one to go, who could only manage 10, very unlike her recent displays.
Heather Knight tried the turn the screw but got out for 24 off 21 as Bangalore struggled in what should have been a straightforward run-chase. In the end, Kanika Ahuja, with 46 off 30 and Richa Ghosh, with an unbeaten 31 off 32, helped Bangalore over the finish line. This is the franchise’s first win in the Women’s T20 League, as they now open their account with two points. Thanks to a better net run rate, Bangalore are now placed above Gujarat in the fourth position on the points table.
Next, in the Women’s T20 League, the Delhi franchise will go up against the Gujarat team at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. While Delhi are placed second in the standings with eight points from five games, Gujarat are struggling with two points that they took off Bangalore. Delhi are in a much likelier position to qualify for the playoffs, but Gujarat will have a chance at an upset.
Here’s how fans reacted to Bangalore’s first win of the season:
Ee sala pehla match jeet gaye
— Cricket Fan 07 (@Manas_pr_sharma) March 15, 2023
We are winning this wipl. I still have believe in our rcb womens team
— MESSI 👽 (@Ghostpendu) March 15, 2023
RCB is the greatest franchise ever ❤️
— Praneeth (@fantasy_d11) March 15, 2023
• No banned like CSK
• No fixing like MI
RCB is bigger than combined CSK+ MI
The success you know, the reason you don't. Thank you King Kohli for guiding our girls 🙏 pic.twitter.com/BTcbtSF2eK
— Daksh (@82MCG_) March 15, 2023
Paise pohoche kya pic.twitter.com/8gR9HsDI52
— RoHitman (@_darsh45) March 15, 2023
😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/NoAzCqRfWr
— 🇮🇳ꪜ𝐢𝐧𝐨⁹⁶🚩 (@Vinod96s) March 15, 2023
— Utsav 💔 (@utsav045) March 15, 2023
still RCB needs calculator pic.twitter.com/eQ4ZA5Utah
— /- (@happyhureh) March 15, 2023