Bhatia half-century, Ramharack three-for hand Trinbago Knight Riders comfortable win

Everything right from the toss went Knight Riders' way as they elected to bowl in the day game. Empress lost two wickets in two balls in the second over, with Amy Hunter first run out for a duck before Meg Lanning was accounted for by Marizanne Kapp the very next ball. Rashada Williams counterattacked, taking Shikha Pandey for a four before striking three fours in an over off Deandra Dottin during her 40 off 47 but got little support from the others.

Ramharack got into the act by removing Empress captain Stafanie Taylor (9) before striking twice in three balls in the tenth over, first taking out Djenaba Joseph (1) and then Zaida James for a two-ball duck as Empress slipped to 44 for 5. Laura Harris then struck twice, getting rid of Williams and two balls later, Aaliyah Alleyne. At 76 for 8, Empress looked set to be bowled out but Chinelle Henry (22*) and Syeda Aroob Shah (12*) helped them reach 100 for 8 in 20 overs.

Knight Riders hardly broke a sweat chasing 101. Bhatia and Harris raced away to 35 in 4.5 overs, with the latter smashing five fours before falling to Nonkululeko Mlaba. Once Harris fell, Bhatia went on the offensive. She took on the pace of Rosemary Mair dumping her for two fours and a six as Knight Riders ended the powerplay on 50.

She then hit Mlaba for two sixes and a four in the ninth over and soon raised a half-century off 28 balls. Bhatia added an unbroken 69-run stand off 37 balls with Dottin, who finished off the game with a four on the first ball of the 12th over.