Sophie Devine leaves Ellyse Perry in awe after putting on a strong performance in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s win over Gujarat Giants

New Zealand hitter Sophie Devine has left Australian team-mate Ellyse Perry in awe after blasting her way to one of women’s cricket’s superb white ball innings.

The veteran Kiwi displayed all her famed power when she narrowly missed out on the first-ever century in the new Women’s Premier League with 99 balls from just 36 in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s eight-wicket win over the Gujarat Giants on Saturday.

Earlier, at Mumbai’s other WPL venue, DY Patil Stadium, Alyssa Healy’s UP Warriorz became the first team to defeat the table-leading Mumbai Indians, with fellow Australians Grace Harris and Tahlia McGrath helping them to a five-point victory. win a wicket.

But it was nothing compared to the late game at Brabourne Stadium, when 33-year-old Devine smashed eight sixes, with RCB easily taking the Giants’ 4-188 and equaling their goal at 2-189 on 27 balls.

Devine’s punching power was remarkable as she rattled 84 within bounds.

She was also selfless and was caught midway while still attempting to smack one over the top to beat RCB to the fastest win possible to improve her net run rate rather than petting an easy single which relieves her would have for the first three-digit result in the league.

She pushed a six to the top row of the stands and afterwards admitted it was a bit educational to watch Australian all-rounder Ash Gardner crack a six and six fours in her 26-ball 41 for the Giants.

“It was good to see how other racquets deal with it. Just watching Ash hit, I learned a lot and just took the best bits and applied them to how I wanted to hit,” said Devine.