WPL 2023: Experience and love will stay with me for a long time – Sophie Devine revels after stormy knock

By chasing an imposing 189 against Gujarat Titans at the Brabourne Stadium, the Bangalore franchise registered the highest successful chase in the major women’s T20 leagues.

The chief engineer of this marvellous feat was Devine. Her 36-ball 99 (8×6, 9×4) became the highest score of the inaugural edition of TATA WPL.

For the record, this was the third time Devine scored a 99 in a T20 match. Twice she has remained unbeaten on 99. In 2010, playing for Wellington Women against Northern Districts and nine years later for Adelaide Strikers against Hobart Hurricanes.

If Devine would have scored a century against Giants, she would have equalled her own record of the fastest century in women’s T20s – off 36 balls in the Super Smash 2020-21.

“There are few people who can do what she did tonight, but she’s been doing it consistently for years and what she did tonight was special,” Ellyse Perry told Sports18 and JioCinema after the match.

“To be fair, that last shot where she got out typifies Sophie. It’s not about runs for her but playing for the team.”

Captain Smriti Mandhana couldn’t stop raving about Devine’s daredevilry. “My job was just to get a single and get Sophie on strike. A few of the sixes were really massive,” said Mandhana in the post-match presentation.

In the ninth over from Tanuja Kanwar, Devine deposited the ball into the second tier of the stadium via a 94-metre long hoick.

Devine obviously loved it and remembered that as her favourite shot of the match. “I think the one I got up there [into the second tier] I was pretty happy with.” But Devine was circumspect about how she got around the blockbuster of an inning.

“Cricket can be so fickle. I’ve been struggling for six to nine months, if I have to be completely honest. To have some freedom on these wickets was good,” she said to Sports18 and JioCinema.

Even after getting out on 99, the crowd was on their feet, much like the entire RCB dugout doffing their hat to the exhibition they witnessed.

She walked back to the dressing room with every corner of the stadium chanting her name loud and clear. Devine was appreciative of the love.

“I’m so used to hearing chants for Perry and Mandhana, and was feeling a bit left out,” Devine giggled. “To hear your name and experience this atmosphere, it will stay with me for a very long time.”