Royal Challengers Bengaluru began their title defence with a historic victory, pulling off the first

200-plus run-chase in the Women's Premier League. Here are the stats highlights from a bat-

dominated day in Vadodara.

When Ghosh had walked out, RCB needed 93 off 46 balls with six wickets in hand. After early

hiccups in the chase, Ellyse Perry had lifted RCB with a 34-ball 57, but it was left to Ghosh and

Kanika Ahuja, returning to RCB after missing a season owing to injury, to take the team home.

After them, it was just the bowlers.

Ghosh took 12 deliveries to score 15 runs - she also got a life first ball when Simran Shaikh

fumbled a chance - and the required run-rate was well over 12 at that stage. She was just

waiting. Like a musician changing the key, the tempo, the mood, or the character of the piece,

Ghosh switched gears in the 16th over, bowled by Ash Gardner, Giants' star of the night who

deserved to be on the winning side after slamming 79 not out off 37 balls and sending back

Smriti Mandhana and Danni Wyatt-Hodge earlier.

Before the start of the over, it was 63 needed off 30. After six balls, it was 40 from 24. Ghosh

showcased skill, both power and deft touches, beauty and brawn, all in one exciting package.

She took on one of the best T20 bowlers in women's cricket, who until then had 2-0-10-2 in the

contest. Dew was playing its part too.

Gardner missed an off-stump yorker off the first ball and that was enough for Ghosh to use her

wrists and find the gap in the cover region. A wide, and then the next ball was also in Ghosh's

arc and she swung through the line to launch it over long-on. The next three balls were

nonchalantly hit to the boundary - two fours were guided past short third with gentle dabs and

another was a pull to deep midwicket. That their fielding was sloppy didn't help Giants.

Ghosh turned the let-off on zero into gold. It was a “playbold” love letter from her to RCB

on Valentine’s Day.