It was a special inning for Sophie Devine as the New Zealand batsman smashed 99 off just 36 balls to guide Royal Challengers Bangalore to a comfortable win over Gujarat Giants in a Women’s Premier League (WPL) encounter on Saturday. Devine’s innings had 9 fours and 8 big sixes, one of which was a maximum of 94 metres. The shot stunned everyone in the RCB dressing room and the celebration quickly went viral on social media. Devine shared a 125-run partnership with Smriti Mandhana as RCB climbed to the fourth spot in the points table with two wins.

9𝟒𝟒𝐌 long six by Sophie Devine #WPL2023 #crickettwitter pic.twitter.com/F8nS7C5gAj

– Women’s Cricket (@infemalecricket) March 18, 2023

Chasing 189 runs, RCB started off with a bang. Openers Sophie Devine and Smriti Mandhana showed no mercy to the Gujarat Giants bowlers, pushing them across the boundary line or into the stands whenever the opportunity presented itself. Devine was the more aggressive of the two batsmen.

Devine dismissed Ashley Gardner in the second over at dot, 6,4,4,6,4 and the over yielded 24 runs. RCB were at 37/0 at this point.

RCB batsmen made it so that the team crossed the 50-run mark in just 3.4 overs.

At the end of the powerplay in six overs, RCB were at 77/0 with Devine (36*) and Mandhana (32*) unbeaten at the crease.

Devine brought up his half-century in just 20 balls and it included six fours and four sixes.

While Mandhana hit some big shots from the other end, she played the anchor role to let Devine express himself and play with freedom.

RCB crossed the 100-run mark in just eight overs.

Devine hit Tanuja Kanwar for three sixes and a four in the ninth over. RCB got 25 runs from the ninth over. RCB were 125/0 in 9 overs, with Devine scoring 78 runs in just 26 balls, including seven fours and seven sixes.

In the battle of the captains, Sneh Rana emerged the better, dismissing Smriti for 37 off 31 balls. His knock included five fours and a six. RCB had lost one wicket for 125 runs.

At the end of 10 overs, RCB were on 131/1, with Devine (79*) joined by Ellyse Perry, who declared with a stylish boundary off her very first ball.

Devine continued to hit big. RCB crossed the 150-run mark in 11.1 overs.

Devine was dismissed for 99 off 36 balls, having missed out on a well-deserved ton. He was dismissed by Kim Garth and caught by Ashwini Kumari. His innings had nine fours and eight sixes. RCB’s score was 157/2 in 11.5 overs.

Heather Knight was next at the crease.

Knight and Perry lead RCB to a memorable win. Perry (19*) and Knight (22*) remained unbeaten as RCB ended their innings at 189/2 in 15.3 overs.

Rana and Garth took one wicket each for GG.

(With ANI inputs)