Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) finally registered their maiden victory in the ongoing Women’s Premier League (WPL) after defeating UP Warriorz by five wickets at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday.
Chasing the paltry target of 136, RCB were in a spot of bother after losing four wickets for 60 in nine overs. Before the Warriorz could capitalise further, Kanika Ahuja stepped up for the Challengers and took the game away from UP.
Kanika smashed 46 from 30 deliveries, including eight fours and one six. She was well supported by Richa Ghosh, who stayed unbeaten on 31 off 32 balls to take the Challengers over the finish line.
Earlier, RCB bowlers exhibited top-class bowling and kept the pressure on UP from the word go. Only Grace Harris stood tall in front of RCB’s bowlers and revived her side by contributing 46 runs off just 32 balls, with the help of five fours and two sixes.
Ellyse Perry was the standout bowler for the Challengers, taking three wickets for just 16 runs in her quota of four overs. Sophie Devine also bowled well, taking 2 wickets for 23 runs as UP Warriorz were bowled out for 135 runs in 19.3 overs.
“Yeah, it was tense. We lost a couple of wickets in the 7th over, it was a bit nervous. But the way Kanika and Richa played was brilliant. Kanika in particular, really proud of her. Really excited to see her bat, the approach she has. She is a 360 degree player, who isn’t the most common in Indian cricket. Really impressed with her and the belief she has. Even when we have not been in great positions, the crowd keep chanting for us. Really happy for this loyal support base, not a lot of teams will have supporters turn up in such high numbers after losing five games,” said RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana in the post-match presentation.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Youngsters Kanika Ahuja and Richa Ghosh to the rescue for @RCBTweets 🫡#RCB record their first WIN in #TATAWPL 🥳
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/uW2g78eMJa #UPWvRCB pic.twitter.com/sp3CdYUJCZ
— Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) March 15, 2023
That’s it! We believed and we achieved. 🙌😮💨
✌crucial points in the bag. We live to fight another day! 👊#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #SheIsBold #WPL2023 #UPWvRCB pic.twitter.com/mhOeBbj1wZ
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) March 15, 2023
RCB achieve their first WPL win, in their 6th match.
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) March 15, 2023
First win for RCB in WPL.
The wait is over for the RCB fans, after losing 5 consecutive games.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 15, 2023
Finally happy faces in RCB dugout. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/xWnfoNqYYD
— feryy (@ffspari) March 15, 2023
First win for RCB after a long wait.
The mandatory RCB fans drop a "❤️" tweet. #RCB pic.twitter.com/BPSahSsLkX— Yashvi. (@BreatheKohli) March 15, 2023
Mood in the RCB camp after 1st win. pic.twitter.com/jdOu0XDEcM
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 15, 2023
How good, Kanika Ahuja. RCB would have probably blown this chance up too but for her 👏
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) March 15, 2023
Thanks Virat Kohli for motivating the RCB team. Had you not inspired the RCB team, they would have lost their 6th match in a row.#RCBvUPW #ViratKohli𓃵 pic.twitter.com/9R2y5PheBp
— Arun Singh (@ArunTuThikHoGya) March 15, 2023
I can't believe it, she is not the same Smriti Mandhana we know.#RCBvUPW pic.twitter.com/NIcnJlqFlD
— Sir BoiesX 🕯 (@BoiesX45) March 15, 2023
https://twitter.com/_Cricpedia/status/1636056073051463688
RCB W Off the mark, lesss go pic.twitter.com/7ULUyuTtQ6
— Prithvi (@Puneite_) March 15, 2023
number 17 Kanika Ahuja saving RCB in do or die match not surprised at all pic.twitter.com/2E2adDhwlT
— Kevin (@imkevin149) March 15, 2023
5 humiliating defeats… Virat Kohli meets rcb girls in the afternoon & they win their first game of the season.
— arfan (@Im__Arfan) March 15, 2023