Gujarat Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Match Highlights & Results

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.

Flighted, full and on middle, Heather Knight uses her feet and eases it towards long off for one.

Fires this full, on middle, Poonam Khemnar drives it towards long on for a single.

Floated, full and on middle, Poonam Khemnar looks to sweep, but misses and gets hit on the pads as the ball goes nowhere.

Poonam Khemnar is in next.

OUT! STUMPED! Ashleigh Gardner strikes again! She bowls this quicker and around leg, Kanika Ahuja skips down the track and goes for the big shot across the line, but gets beaten by the pace and bounce and Sushma Verma behind the stumps does the rest.

Ashleigh Gardner (3-0-22-2) is back on.

Flighted and on off, Kanika Ahuja drills it towards the bowler where Sneh Rana gets a hand, but fails to stop it. They cross.

FOUR! A much-needed boundary! This is flatter, full and on middle, Kanika Ahuja goes down and nails her sweep towards the deep backward square leg fence for four more runs.

Darts this one full, on leg, angling in, Kanika Ahuja makes room to smash it away, but misses it completely.

Quicker, full and on off, Heather Knight mistimes her reverse sweep towards backward point for a run.

A high full toss, on middle, Kanika Ahuja heaves it towards deep square leg for a run. However, Bangalore decides to review it and Ball Tracking shows that it is dipping enough and it is a fair delivery.

Reviewed for a waist-high no ball! Kanika Ahuja thinks that the ball is above waist height but the square leg umpire has deemed it as a fair delivery and she has taken the review right away. The third umpire checks a couple of replays and then the Ball Tracking as well. It is concluded that the ball is below waist height and the on-field decision stands.

FOUR! Kanika Ahuja gets into the act now! This is tossed up, full and on off, Kanika Ahuja goes inside out and smacks it over extra covers for a boundary. Bangalore need 40 runs in 17 balls!

FOUR! Heather Knight is dealing in boundaries here! This is pitched up, on middle, Heather Knight whips it towards the deep square leg fence for four more runs.

Annabel Sutherland tries for the slower one again, but this slips out of her hands and goes well outiside off, Heather Knight leaves it alone. Wided. Knight is asking if that is a No Ball or not, but the umpire says no.

FOUR! Clever shot! Annabel Sutherland serves this on a good length and around off, Heather Knight waits for it and opens the face of her bat to guide it past short third man foe a boundary.

FOUR! Nice shot! This is full and outside off, Heather Knight reaches for it and slices it between point and covers for a boundary.

Annabel Sutherland loses her line and bowls this full and way outside off, it takes off after hitting the deck and Sushma Verma only manges to parry it towards the third man region. Two byes are taken!

Full and on off, Kanika Ahuja moves across to scoop, but misses as the ball loops up off his pads towards the keeper. The batters steal a run as Sushma Verma decides to hold onto the ball.

Kanika Ahuja is in next.

OUT! TAKEN! Annabel Sutherland gets the big fish, Sophie Devine. This is not the best delivery, but still, it gets her a crucial wicket. She tries for the back-of-the-hand slower one, but serves a full toss on off, Sophie Devine looks surprised by that and mistimes her slog in the air towards long on where Ashleigh Gardner takes a fine catch under pressure. Devine goes after playing a fine knock!

SIX! BANG! Sophie Devine has sent this a long way! Annabel Sutherland lands this short and on off, slower too, Sophie Devine waits for it and hammers it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

FOUR! Two in a row! Ashleigh Gardner gives this one some air, on off, Heather Knight goes inside out and lofts it over extra covers for another boundary.

FOUR! Innovative and effective! This is fligthed, full annd on off, Heather Knight stays there and reverse-scoops it towards the thrid man fence for a boundary.

Flatter, full and on middle, Sophie Devine sweeps it with the inner half through square leg for a run.

Floated, full and on off, Heather Knight chips it towards long off for a single and gets off the mark.

Quicker, full and on off, Heather Knight looks to reverse-sweep it, but msises.

Heather Knight is in at number 5.

OUT! TIMBER! Ashleigh Gardner strikes! The break has once again worked for the fielding team. This is a huge wicket for Gujarat as Richa Ghosh walks back to the hut now. This is fired in the blockhole, on middle, Richa Ghosh makes room and tries to squeeze it away, but is late to put her bat down in time and the ball goes through to rattle the stumps. Bangalore three down now!

Strategic Break! Bangalore need one of Sophie Devine or Richa Ghosh to play till the end for them to chase this total. Devine has looked good, but the task is still a difficult one and Ghosh need to get going as well. With 77 runs needed off 30 balls, Gujarat will be hoping there isn't a repeat of their last game against UP and the bowlers do get them over the line this time around.

Beaten! Excellent comeback after conceding a maximum off the first ball by Tanuja Kanwar. This is speared in full and outside off, Sophie Devine looks to drive at it but misses. The keeper whips off the bails and there is a stifled appeal for stumping but it is turned down.

Full and straight, driven straight to mid on.

Keeps it full and at the stumps, Richa Ghosh gets an inside edge as she looks to slog it away. The ball rolls toward backward square leg and they get a single.

Outside off, this is hit away straight to backward point.

Floated full and at the stumps, Sophie Devine mistimes the slog this time along the ground and through mid-wicket for a single.

SIX! Clean strike! This is tossed up on middle and off, Devine stays deep and clears the front leg to smoke it over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

Full on middle and leg, drilled down to long on for one.

Should have been put away! A juicy full toss around middle, Richa Ghosh mistimes the slog through mid-wicket and picks up a single.

FOUR! Quicker and fuller outside off, Richa Ghosh just opens the face of the bat at the last moment and slices it in between backward point and short third man for another boundary.

FOUR! A streaky boundary to get off the mark for Richa Ghosh but she won't mind it. Tossed up outside off, Ghosh goes hard at it and gets an outside edge that runs away into the third man fence.

Keeps it full and outside off, Ghosh drives it toward cover.

This is fired in full and well outside off, Sophie Devine steps out and almost runs past the ball. Devine gets an inside edge that goes off the keeper's gloves and toward short fine leg. They pick up a single.

Richa Ghosh still can't get off the mark! Pitched up in that channel around off, Ghosh looks to cover drive but misses.

Full and outside off, stroked away to covers.

Slower one, on a length and around off. Sophie Devine looks to slog it away but toe-ends it toward mid on. Devine scampers through for one and brings up her FIFTY, a well-compiled one but she would know that she needs to do a lot more to take her side over the line.

FOUR! Struck firmly! Pitched up outside off, Sophie Devine frees her arms and smashes it through extra cover for a second boundary in three deliveries.

Excellent comeback! Kim Garth nails the yorker on the fourth stump line and Sophie Devine fails to get any bat on it.

Bangalore need 101 runs in 47 balls and Sophie Devine and Richa Ghosh will be the key players if they want to gun this down. Gujarat have done well to keep things under control, but they know they will have to get these two out to seal the game.

FOUR! Sophie Devine knows she has to go now and picks up a much-needed boundary. Very full, a low full toss on leg stump, Devine flicks it flat and into the mid-wicket fence.

Top delivery! Full and outside off, shaping away nicely. Richa Ghosh looks to cover drive but the ball beats the outside edge.

Richa Ghosh comes out to the middle now.

OUT! CAUGHT! A soft dismissal here for Ellyse Perry and she won't be pleased with that. Mansi Joshi bowls it slower and shorter around off. Perry comes forward and backs away as she tries to adjust and just get it over backward point. Perry ends up just pushing the ball off the outer half of the bat and straight to Dayalan Hemalatha there and she takes a simple catch. Perry departs just when her innings started to take flight and Bangalore now need 105 runs off 49 balls.

Full and straight, right in the blockhole. Perry hits it straight back at the bowler who makes a good stop.

FOUR! Nicely done! Back of a length and around off, Ellyse Perry bends her back and steers it through the vacant third-man region for a boundary.

FOUR! Good attempt in the deep but it has gone through. Length on the pads, Ellyse Perry picks it up and flicks it aerially down to deep square leg where Ashwani Kumari makes a valiant diving effort but the ball eludes her.

Mansi Joshi comes into the attack now and starts off with a shortish delivery on the body. Sophie Devine pulls it in front of mid-wicket for just a single.

Very full and on the leg pole, Devine clears the front leg and drives it down to long on for a run. Just 6 runs off it, an excellent over from Tanuja Kanwar.

Sophie Devine looks to step out and Tanuja Kanwar just fires it in at the toes. Devine gets it off the inner half of the bat toward deep square leg for a couple of runs.

Around middle, this is worked away to deep mid-wicket for just another single.

Floated up well outside the off stump, Sophie Devine had already shuffled across and only manages to hit it down to long off for one.

Full and on leg stump, Perry advances and pushes it down to long on for a single.

Full and outside off, Ellyse Perry goes hard at it and ends up slicing it toward short third man.

Slower through the air, on off, Ellyse Perry pushes it to thge left of the bowler where Sneh Rana runs and dives to that side, but lets it roll under towards mid off. The batters sneak a run.

Fires this one full and down the leg, Ellyse Perry misses her sweep. Wided!

Gives this one some air, on middle, Sophie Devine mistimes her drive towards long on for one.

Flatter, full and on middle, Ellyse Perry clips it towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Through the gap! This is flighted, on middle, Ellyse Perry takes it on the full and squeezes it with an angled bat through covers for a boundary.

Floated, full and on middle, Ellyse Perry tucks it towards mid-wicket.

Sneh Rana seems to have hurt the fingers on her left hand while stopping the ball and seems to be in some pain. The same fingers are already taped and the physio is out to have a look. Everything seems fine now and we are good to continue.

A low full toss, on middle, Ellyse Perry smashes it straight back to the bowler where Sneh Rana stops it, but has hurt herself in the process.

Strategic break! After a blistering start by the Bangalore openers Smriti Mandhana and Sophie Devine, Gujarat have pulled things back pretty well. 128 runs are needed in 66 balls and it is Gujarat's game to lose from here. But, Bangalore do have wickets in hand with Devine and Perry pretty well set, the likes of Heather Knight and Richa Ghosh can come on later in the innings and do the damage. It is set up to be an enticing phase of play, so, don't go anywhere.

Another slower delivery, short and on off, Ellyse Perry waits for it and pulls it hard and wide of deep mid-wicket where Ashleigh Gardner runs to her right and stretches her right hand to pat the ball inside. Only a single taken!

A slower one now, on a length and on off, Ellyse Perry steers it towards backward point.

Another short delivery, on off, Sophie Devine punches it towards extra covers for one.

Shorter in length and outside off, Ellyse Perry cuts it towards point where a fumble allows a run.

FOUR! Easy pickings for Perry! This is full and on the pads, Ellyse Perry just helps it over and wide of short fine leg for a boundary

Short and on middle, Sophie Devine gets hurried and mistimes her pull shot through square leg for a single.

Quicker, short and on off, Ellyse Perry opens the face of her bat and guides it towards short third man where the fielder makes a half-stop and parries it behind her. Two runs taken!

Fires this one in the blockhole, on middle, Ellyse Perry digs it out towards mid on.

A high full toss, on middle, Sophie Devine heaves it towards deep mid-wicket for a run.