AFTER a shaky start to the tournament, the Gujarat Giants are finally on the board in the Women’s Premier League, after downing the Royal Challengers Bangalore by 11 runs.

After the Giants posted a whopping 7/201 from their 20 overs, the Royal Challengers gave it an almighty crack but could not quite get there.

Despite the big score, for the most part Gujarat’s partnerships were not overly huge. Although, two 50-plus run partnerships in a row between Sophia Dunkley and Harleen Deol, and Deol and Ash Gardner respectively were the difference in Gujarat being able to post a score of such scale.

Deol was the top scorer in the end with 67, but Dunkley was not too far behind on 65.

Meanwhile for the Royal Challengers Shreyanka Patil and Heather Knight were the pick of the bowlers, each snaring two wickets.

In reply, despite the best efforts of the likes of Sophie Devine (66 runs), the Royal Challengers were unable to quite match the Giants’ pace.

They made an impressively quick start to their chase, going at about 10 runs an over before they lost their first wicket at 1/54 in the sixth over.

Things slowed down as the innings progressed, but they still made the a very impressive total of 6/190 from their 20 overs.

Gardner starred with the ball for the Giants, picking up 3/31 from her full allotment.

Fellow Aussie Annabel Sutherland was expensive but also picked up multiple wickets for Gujarat, taking 2/56 from her four overs.

Both Gujarat and the Royal Challengers have a few days’ break before their next assignments.

The Royal Challengers are up against the UP Warriorz on Saturday morning Australian time, while Gujarat have got the inform Capitals the following day.