After suffering five consecutive defeats, Smriti Mandhana’s Bangalore finally earned their first win in Women’s T20 League after beating Uttar Pradesh by 5 wickets on Wednesday at DY Patil Sports Academy. Chasing a low total of 135 runs, Bangalore, once again, made a disappointing start.
Skipper Smriti Mandhana’s poor form continued with the bat as Deepti Sharma cleaned her stumps in the very first over. The likes of Sophie Devine (14 off 6) and Ellyse Perry (10 off 13) also failed to step up to the occasion. At one stage, Bangalore were in a bit of trouble at 60 for 4 in 9 overs and needed a partnership to steady the ship.
Kanika Ahuja then came to the team’s rescue as she forged a 60-run partnership for the fifth wicket to help the franchise bag their first win of the season. Ahuja got out in the 17th over after playing a stellar knock of 46 runs in 30 balls but Ghosh remained right till the end and took her team over the line. She anchored the chase with a handy unbeaten 31-run knock in 32 balls.
Earlier, Mandhana and Co. restricted UP to 135 runs in the first innings. There is no denying the fact that the Red Army bowled exceedingly well to restrict UP to a below-par score. Sophie Devine removed both the openers, Healy (1 off 3) and Devika Vaidya (0) in the first over of the innings itself. In the very next over, Meghan Schutt removed Tahlia McGrath to leave the Warriorz reeling at 5 for 3 inside two overs.
Kiran Navgire amassed 22 runs in 26 balls but she too couldn’t find any momentum during her innings. Half of the side were gone back for just 31 runs on the board. However, Grace Harris and Deepti Sharma then joined hands with each other and the duo forged a 79-run partnership for the 6th wicket.
Ellyse Perry, eventually, broke the partnership in the 15th over as she sent Deepti Sharma (22) back. Grace Harris scored 46 runs in 32 balls but she would be disappointed to not finish well for the side. UP collected only 35 runs in the last five overs as wickets kept falling at short intervals.
For Bangalore, Ellyse Perry starred with the ball, picking 3 wickets for 16 runs in 4 overs, while D Devine returned with two wickets for 23 runs in 4 overs.
Here’s a look at how fans reacted to the win:
RCB fans: pic.twitter.com/JpkhIxEgNv
— SANKET (@___sanket__) March 15, 2023
The comeback you know, the reason you don't! pic.twitter.com/IYDflIJWBR
— Ana de Armas stan (@abhithecomic) March 15, 2023
😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/NoAzCqRfWr
— 🇮🇳ꪜ𝐢𝐧𝐨⁹⁶🚩 (@Vinod96s) March 15, 2023
We are winning this wipl. I still have believe in our rcb womens team
— MESSI 👽 (@Ghostpendu) March 15, 2023
Finally smriti is smiling
— Teja Sriram Pavan Kumar (@sts_pavan) March 15, 2023
Finally god listen there voice
— JAY 🤍🧞 (@jayeshg91514928) March 15, 2023
Finally a win 😭 pic.twitter.com/Y0cRaQO6dY
— Rohit kumar (@kohlifpp) March 15, 2023
Effect of kohli
— Shamik (@justtargaryen) March 15, 2023
