In a thrilling start to the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025, the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), pulled off a historic victory against the Gujarat Giants (GG) in Vadodara. Chasing a mammoth target of 202 runs, RCB showcased an electrifying performance, clinching the match by six wickets with nine balls to spare, setting the highest successful chase in WPL history.
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| Image Credits: ESPN Cricinfo |
The match began with RCB opting to field first after winning the toss, a decision that seemed questionable as Gujarat Giants posted a formidable 201/5, thanks to half-centuries from Beth Mooney and the explosive knock from captain Ashleigh Gardner. GG's innings was a rollercoaster, with early wickets falling to RCB's disciplined bowling attack, led by Renuka Singh.
However, the real drama unfolded during RCB's chase. The team faced early setbacks with Smriti Mandhana and Danni Wyatt-Hodge departing cheaply. Yet, the backbone of the innings was provided by the Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry, who scored a crucial 57 off 34 balls, and later, the star of the show, Richa Ghosh.
Richa Ghosh's unbeaten 64 off just 27 balls, punctuated with seven fours and four sixes, turned the game around. Her partnership with Kanika Ahuja, who contributed a brisk 30 off 13, was nothing short of spectacular, as they added an unbeaten 93 for the fifth wicket. This performance not only marked a significant win for RCB but also set a tone of dominance and resilience for their title defense in the WPL 2025 season.
Brief Scores: Royal Challengers Bengaluru - 202/4 in 18.3 overs (Richa Ghosh - 64, Ashleigh Gardener - 2/33) defeated Gujarat Giants - 201/5 in 20 overs (Ashleigh Gardener - 79, Renuka Singh - 2/25) by a margin of 6 wickets with 9 balls remaining
