WPL 2023: I tried to hit the ball hard and hoped for the best, says Sophia Dunkley | Cricket News – Times of India

Sophia Dunkley said she was focussed on hitting the ball hard and it paid off, as the Gujarat Giants‘ opener hit the fastest half-century of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) during her team’s win over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
Dunkley took just 18 balls to reach the fifty mark, before getting dismissed for 65 off just 28 balls to take her team to 201/7. She hit 11 fours and 3 sixes in her konck.
After picking the ‘Player of the Match’ award in her team’s 11-run win, Dunkley said her focus was to attack hard.

“It was a bit touch and go at one point. Really proud of the girls out there for the win. I tried to hit the ball hard and hoped for the best. I didn’t really mind. I’d love to play whenever given the chance. We thought 200 might just be enough on that wicket. A really close finish and happy with the win,” she said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
After Dunkley’s departure, all-rounder Harleen Deol impressed everyone with her timing and placement to score 67 off 45 balls, hitting nine fours and a six.

“Feels good to win. Wicket was good, batting was planned according to that. Backed my strengths and played. She (Sneh Rana) is a fighter, and will manage to get back on the field somehow (after suffering blows to her finger). There was some bleeding in her fingers but she will be fine,” Dunkley concluded.
Gujarat earned their first points of the competition in three matches with an 11-run victory, while RCB slipped to their third straight defeat to remain at the bottom of the five-team table.
(With agency inputs)