Royal Challengers Bangalore cricketer Sophie Devine put up a cracking show at the Brabourne Stadium against the Gujarat Giants on Saturday, March 18 in the 2023 Women’s Premier League. She missed out on a well-deserved century but powered the team to their second win of the tournament. Royal Challengers Bangalore won the match by eight wickets.
Sophie Devine opened the innings along with skipper Smriti Mandhana, chasing 189 runs. She took on the bowlers, early in the innings, slamming Ashleigh Gardner for three boundaries and two sixes in an over. Devine took 24 runs off the over, getting the Royal Challengers Bangalore off to a flying start. She continued the batting onslaught and got to her fifty in just 20 deliveries. This is the third fastest fifty of the Women’s Premier League.
The New Zealand cricketer showed no mercy on the Gujarat Giants bowlers, and she smashed Tanuja Kanwar for 25 runs off an over. She hit three sixes and a boundary. In the 12th over, Sophie Devine looked set to become the first centurion in the Women’s Premier League. Unfortunately, she was dismissed by Kim Garth on 99 runs. Her knock included nine boundaries and eight sixes, including a 94m long six.
Unbelievable 🙁
99 off just 36 deliveries! Take a bow 👏👏
Sophie Devine departs just one run short of the 100-run mark!
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/uTxwwRnRxl#TATAWPL | #RCBvGG pic.twitter.com/WqlZjOZsIk
— Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) March 18, 2023
Let’s take a look at how fans reacted to Sophie Devine’s knock against Gujarat Giants in the 2023 Women’s Premier League:
No way. 99. This deserves to be a century. The first of the #TataWPL. Sophie Devine has played the knock of the tournament 👏👏 #RCB
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 18, 2023
Sophie Devine dismissed for 99.
Sad end to a great knock, one to remember in WPL history. pic.twitter.com/8OiK5av9hE
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 18, 2023
What selfless Cricket from Sophie Devine, Batting on 99 off 35 balls still instead of going for a single tried to maintain the quick scoring and got out.
This was such a special innings from a such a selfless and talented cricketer, what a beast. #RCBvsGG
— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRaii) March 18, 2023
Heartbreaking. Devine deserved a ton. What a fantastic knock. #WPL2023 #RCBvGG
— Mukut Brahma (@Mukutbrahma) March 18, 2023
Biggest anti-climax. Sophie Devine perishes on 99. What a knock #WPL2023
— Vishesh Roy (@vroy38) March 18, 2023
99 runs in just 36 balls for Sophie Devine, missed out on a well deserved century. pic.twitter.com/Lsd9JMf2VK
— Cricket is Love ❤ (@cricketfan__) March 18, 2023
It's hurts on 99 getting out. Well played Devine. This innings will be remembered forever
— Ayush Prajapati (@im_ayush___) March 18, 2023
What an exhibition!!! What hitting!! #Devine #WPL2023 #RCBvUPW
— Vikas Shukla (@VikasMic) March 18, 2023
Such devine inning from @sophdevine77 ❤️❤️❤️
Felt for her 💯💔 though..#RCB #WPL2023— Abhinav Kaushik (@_b_a_b_a_1607) March 18, 2023
Man oh man .That was Brutal innings from Sophie Devine !! 🤯🤯🤯 Missed A well deserved century 🥹💔 !! Enjoyed to the fullest 🔥💥. #WPL2023 #CricketTwitter
— Anish (@AnishKumar1104) March 18, 2023
#Sophie Devine remember the name!
𝟗𝟗 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟑𝟔 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 with 8 sixes and 9 fours.#Rcb #cricket #Devine pic.twitter.com/6UglQIzJ14
— Mominul Islam (@MominulCric) March 18, 2023
Royal Challengers Bangalore registered the second win of the tournament
On the back of Sophie Devine’s blistering 99 runs, Royal Challengers Bangalore chased down 189 runs comfortably. The right-handed batter won the Player of the Match award. Smriti Mandhana also scored 37 runs, while Ellyse Perry and Heather Knight were unbeaten on 19 and 22 respectively. Royal Challengers Bangalore secured their second consecutive win in the tournament.
Earlier in the league, Royal Challengers Bangalore lost all of their first five matches. They were reeling at the bottom staring at an early exit from the qualification race. However, their consecutive wins have kept them alive in the competition. The Smriti Mandhana-led team has four points from seven games. They will take on the Mumbai Indians next on Tuesday, March 21 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
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