🏏WPL 2023: RCB Women vs UP Warriorz Women - Match 13 - 7:30PM IST 🏏 - Page 7

Smriti Mandhana | RCB Captain: 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.

That's it. The jinx has been broken!! It is sixth time lucky for RCB and the elation is there for all to see. They made this game feel way more difficult than it should have and they played like a team searching for their first win, always tentative. However, in the end they chased down the target with two overs to spare. The pitch was a bit slow and UP Warriorz stuck with spin for all but one of their overs. They got early success, with Sophie Devine holing out in the deep despite scoring a four and a six in that over. Smriti Mandhana's barren patch continued as she was cleaned up by Deepti Sharma without opening her account. Heather Knight and Ellyse Perry steadied the innings for a bit, but they both threw it away after getting their eye in. RCB however found a hero in Kanika Ahuja, who used her feet nicely to take the attack to the Warriorz. She played aggressively and kept ahead of the curb at all times. It was unfortunate that Ahuja fell four short of her fifty, but her efforts had got RCB to a safe position. Richa Ghosh then finished it off with some lusty blows, first win of the season for RCB!!

Richa Ghosh: It was nice to give her (Shreyanka) strike when a single was needed. We have been positive every match but the attitude was different today. We are feeling really nice after our first win. Our (Kanika and I) aim was to build a partnership and the equation was gettable, if we spent time in the middle then we knew we would chase it down. We executed our plans and there was help for the pacers. We got little momentum in the last game even though we didn't win and we spoke about how we can do better as individuals.

Alyssa Healy | UP Warriorz captain: We weren't up to standard tonight and the total was under par, not good enough. The wicket was holding a bit, it was like wet clay and we got ahead of ourselves, losing three wickets in the powerplay is not great. It was spin to win, the ball was gripping and we needed wickets, we thought it would be spinners to get us those wickets. (On RCB getting their first win) Full credit to them, they are a good side and things haven't gone their way. They turned up tonight after losing five games and were the better team.

Kanika Ahuja | Player of the Match: I wanted to win one game for RCB. One dream accomplished today. Since childhood, I've been a big hitter, I always play this way. The cricket journey was a bit tough because there aren't the best academies in Pathiala, but now things are getting better. I have played in such situations while playing for Punjab, I like playing under pressure. The team is very happy now because we have got our first win, long may it continue...

Smriti Mandhana | RCB Captain: 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.

V Sundar: "Atlast, RCB have moved from 5th place in points table!!!!"

10:50pm: Celebrations in the dug out. End-to-end smiles in the faces, Schutt gives Shreyanka and Richa hugs as RCB seal their first win. RCB got the perfect start and finish with the ball but were not clinical. They allowed Harris and Deepti to take Warriorz to 135. Devine got 14 off the first over with the bat but her wicket led to Mandhana failing again. Knight kept going despite the wickets. The wobble continued with Perry and Knight falling not too far from each other. But Richa's calm and 20-year-old Ahuja's brilliance stitched a 60-run stand that took them to safe shores.

Virat: "ufffffffffffffff... Ha Ha claps, jumps, fist bumps.. -RCB fan"

Originally posted by: Viswasruti

First victory for RCBW after a long time!!!

Congratulations to RCBW ⭐️

At last rcb opened a/c 😆, Congo rcb 🥳

Originally posted by: SoniRita

V Sundar: "Atlast, RCB have moved from 5th place in points table!!!!"

Washington Sundar ne apne W ko V bana diya😕

Wow! First win. RCB must be relieved.👏

Congratulations to RCB for winning the match.🥳

Congratulations to Kanika Ahuja for winning the PoTM award.👏

Cheers..