WPL 2023,GG vs RCB, Highlights: Harleen Deol, Sophia Dunkley Star In Run-Fest As Gujarat Giants Register First Win

That is it from this game and it is Gujarat who get their first win, leaving Bangalore still without a single victory. The action in the Women's T20 League 2023 continues on Thursday, the 9th of March with table-toppers Mumbai taking on high-flying Delhi in a top-of-the-table clash. That game will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT) but you can join us a lot early for the build-up as well. Cheers!

Sophia Dunkley (65 runs off 28 balls) is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH. Dunkley says that it was touch and go at one point but, she is very proud of the team and is happy with the win. Adds that she just tried to hit the ball hard and in the right areas. Tells that it was a close finish, but feels great to get over the line.

Gujarat's skipper, Sneh Rana says that she is very proud of the girls and it feels amazing. On her injury, she smiles and says that she is fine and she already has enough injuries on her hands. Says that it is difficult defending a score on this ground but they did well to achieve that. On Annabel Sutherland bowling the final over, she says that they trust her and she is capable of bowling wide yorkers. Mentions that they have a balanced side and a good combination as well. Ends by saying that they were looking for the win from the very first day and now that they have got it, it feels good.

The Presentation ceremony...

Smriti Mandhana, the captain of Bangalore says that they gave away a few extra runs which took Gujarat's total a bit over par. Adds that she is proud of the batting effort from her team, but feels that there were 2-3 overs where they could have got some quick runs. Tells that the wicket was good and the outfield was fast and one side was really short. Mentions that Gujarat batters played on the minds of a few of their bowlers, but it is about being hard on themselves. Credits Shreyanka Patil for the way she batted and bowled and also praises Kanika Ahuja for her approach.

Harleen Deol is down for a quick chat. Deol says that it feels really good to finally get their first win. Adds that the wicket was good and she just backed herself to play to her strengths. Mentions that Sneh Rana was bleeding a bit on her finger, but she is a fighter and she would have played no matter what.

Earlier in the game, Sneh Rana won the toss and opted to bat first and after losing an early wicket, Sophia Dunkley and Harleen Deol put on a 60-run stand with Dunkley simply toying with the Bangalore bowlers. Dunkley got out after a fine half-ton but Deol carried on the good work and she too notched up a fifty. A few small contributions from the batters that followed took Gujarat over the 200-run mark. On the bowling front, Bangalore yet again struggled a bit to pick up wickets and it was Heather Knight who was brought on in the second half of the innings who did the damage with a couple of wickets. Shreyanka Patil too chipped in with two wickets but overall the bowling attack was sub-par. Coming to the chase, Gujarat were able to just keep Bangalore under the scoring rate at all times and managed to pick up timely wickets in order to seal the win.

Bangalore will feel devastated at the moment with the result here as they had a couple of good partnerships brewing at the top but couldn't keep up with the scoring rate. Smriti Mandhana got off to a start and gave her wicket away and then Sophie Devine and Ellyse Perry seemed to be going great guns before Perry too fell. Devine went on to score a half-century but with the pressure mounting and not much support from the other end, she got out as well. Heather Knight played a lovely cameo but wasn't able to get back on strike in the final couple of overs. Shreyanka Patil is someone who will bring a smile to Bangalore's face as she bowled well and hit a couple of lusty blows off the three deliveries she faced but all in all Bangalore will be a bit disappointed.

With 201 runs on the board, Gujarat were in the driving seat but didn't have the best of starts with the ball. The breakthrough then came in the final over of the Powerplay as Ashleigh Gardner dismissed Smriti Mandhana yet again and this helped them regain control of the game. However, they found it difficult to pick up regular wickets but managed to keep the scoring rate in check. Gardner starred with the ball picking up three wickets and also bowled a brilliant penultimate over when things got close. Annabel Sutherland didn't have a good outing but managed to close out the game for her team.

After yet another nervy finish to the game, Gujarat have finally managed to get over the line and have got their first win of the campaign in a thrilling encounter. As for Bangalore, they succumb to a third defeat on the trot and will look to bounce back at the earliest.

A dot to end the innings then! Annabel Sutherland bowls this full and outside off, angling away, Shreyanka Patil makes room, but goes too far away from the ball and fails to connect. GUJARAT WIN BY 11 RUNS!

FOUR! A boundary now! This is short and on middle and leg, Shreyanka Patil pulls it towards the deep backward square leg fence for four runs.

SIX! Shreyanka Patil goes big, but it is too little too late now. This is back of a length and on middle, Shreyanka Patil shuffles across, goes down on one knee and hooks it over the fine leg fence for a biggie.

A full toss, on middle, Heather Knight whips it towards deep square leg for just a run.

Full and on off, Shreyanka Patil smashes it wide of mid off where Sneh Rana covers her ground and dives to her right to stop it. Only a single. Knight gets back the strike.

Shreyanka Patil is the new batter in.

OUT! TAKEN! Another one bites the dust! Gujarat will be happy with the wicket, but more importantly, it is a dot ball and Knight is still off strike. Annabel Sutherland serves this full and around off, Poonam Khemnar moves across to scoop, but loses her bottom hand and the ball loops up towards short fine leg where Ashwani Kumari (Sub) backtracks and takes a good catch. Bangalore still need 24 runs!

Annabel Sutherland (3-0-44-1) to bowl the final over. Can she defend 23 runs?

SIX! BOOM! This is tossed up, full and on mdidle, Heather Knight goes down and slogs it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie. Bangalore need 24 runs in the last over!

A single as this full delivery is swept towards deep square leg by Poonam Khemnar.