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- RCB vs GG, WPL 2025 highlights: Richa Ghosh shines as Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Gujarat Giants by 6 wickets
RCB vs GG, WPL 2025 highlights: Richa Ghosh shines as Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Gujarat Giants by 6 wickets
RCB faced early setbacks, losing both openers Smriti Mandhana (9) and Danny Wyatt (4) to Ashleigh Gardner in the second over, leaving them at 14 for two.
The partnership between Perry and Raghavi Bist (25, 27b) yielded 86 runs, stabilising the innings until Bist fell to Deandra Dottin.
Perry, who received a lifeline when dropped on 19, capitalised on the opportunity against the Giants' imprecise bowling attack.
Despite nursing a hip injury from the recent Women's Ashes, Perry reached her fifty off 27 balls with a six against Dottin.
Following Perry's dismissal by Sayali Satghare, Ghosh and Kanika Ahuja (30 not out, 13b, 4x4) took control of the chase.
Their unbroken 93-run partnership, featuring Ghosh's 23-ball fifty, proved decisive as RCB secured victory, scoring 64 runs in the final five overs.
Earlier, Gujarat Giants posted 201/5, powered by captain Gardner's explosive 79 off 37 balls (3x4, 8x6) and Beth Mooney's composed 56 off 42 (8x4).
After losing Wolvaardt and Hemalatha with 41 runs on board, Mooney and Gardner steadied the innings with a 44-run partnership before Mooney fell to Prema Rawat.
Gardner and Dottin (25, 13b, 3x4, 1x6) accelerated the scoring with a rapid 67-run partnership.
Gardner's aggressive approach contrasted with Mooney's technical batting, as she dominated both spin and pace, particularly targeting Prema and VJ Joshitha for three sixes each.
The innings concluded with Dottin's dismissal by Renuka Singh whilst attempting an aggressive shot.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Dayalan Hemalatha, Goes fuller, outside off, Dayalan Hemalatha comes forward and nudges it to mid on.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Dayalan Hemalatha, An appeal for LBW but is turned down by the umpire! Smriti Mandhana is looking interested in taking the DRS but finally decides against it. Hard length, around middle, seaming in, Dayalan Hemalatha presses back and looks to swipe it but gets beaten on the bottom edge as the ball goes and hits her on the back pad. Probably, the height could be the issue. Oh, dear! The replays later show that it would have been out had they reviewed it!
Dayalan Hemalatha walks in at number 3.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Laura Wolvaardt, OUT! KNOCKED HER OVER! Renuka Singh Thakur draws first blood for Bengaluru! The dangerous Laura Wolvaardt departs and Gujarat are 35/1. Comes from over the wicket does Renuka and bowls on the tempting length, on the fourth stump, Laura Wolvaardt settles herself deep-rooted in the crease and clears out her front leg a bit to slog it to the leg side. She doesn't reach to the pitch of the ball and gets deceived by the swing a bit. Manages to get an inside edge as the ball goes and rattles the off stump.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, On a good length, wide outside off, Beth Mooney has to reach out to cut it towards deep point for a single.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, FOUR! A NICE EFFORT BUT A BOUNDARY FOR THE BATTER! Pitches up, outside off, Beth Mooney moves across a bit and drags it to the leg side uppishly but just wide of the mid-wicket fielder and the ball races away to the boundary at deep mid-wicket.
Bowling change? No, Renuka Singh Thakur will continue...
- Beth Mooney 18 (15)
- Laura Wolvaardt 6 (9)
Kim Garth to Beth Mooney, Back of a length, outside off, Mooney again uses her feet and cuts it to deep point and gets a single this time.
Kim Garth to Beth Mooney, Again around the wicket for Mooney, on a length ball, around off, Beth Mooney is trying to unsettle the bowler by stepping out and moving across as she drops it down to cover at the end.
Kim Garth to Laura Wolvaardt, Comes over the wicket again, hard length, outside off, Laura steers it to deep cover for a single.
Kim Garth to Beth Mooney, Comes around the wicket, follows the batter, around middle and leg, Beth Mooney ends up getting cramped up for the desired room as she tucks it towards deep square leg for a single.
Kim Garth to Beth Mooney, Nagging length, outside off, Mooney stands tall and guides it to backward point.
Kim Garth to Beth Mooney, FOUR! STREAKY! Pitches up, on the fourth stump, Beth Mooney steps out and looks to go for a inside out shot over cover but gets it through the outer half of the bat as the ball goes over the backward point fielder for a boundary.
- Beth Mooney 12 (10)
- Laura Wolvaardt 5 (8)
Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, Similar length, outside off, Mooney makes room a bit and dabs it wide of point for a single.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, WIDE! On a good length, wide outside off, Beth Mooney looks to cut it but misses. Called a wide.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Laura Wolvaardt, BYE! BEATEN ALL ENDS UP! On a good length, around middle, swings in big time, Laura Wolvaardt swipes at it but misses as the keeper also fails to collect the ball. The batters run for a bye as the ball rolls away towards short fine leg.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Laura Wolvaardt, Slightly fuller, around middle and leg, follows the batter, nips back in sharply, Laura Wolvaardt shimmies down the track to launch it towards the leg side but misses and gets hit on the body.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, On a good length, just outside off, Beth Mooney stretches her arms to cut it towards deep point for a single.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Laura Wolvaardt, TWO WIDES! Sprays it down the leg side, fuller in length, Laura Wolvaardt looks to flick it but misses. The batters run for a single as the ball rolls away toward short fine leg after the keeper can't hold onto it.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, Hard length, outside off, Beth Mooney cuts it uppishly from the back foot just far from the fielder at backward point for a single.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, In the air but over the mid off fielder! On a good length, outside off, Beth Mooney uses her feet and looks to loft it over cover but she doesn't get the desired elevation and the ball goes in the air but just over Smriti Mandhana at mid off. The batters run for a couple.
- Laura Wolvaardt 5 (6)
- Beth Mooney 7 (6)
Kim Garth to Laura Wolvaardt, Good length, at the stumps, Laura Wolvaardt looks to flick it away but gets a leading edge that goes a bit uppishly but well short of the point fielder.
Kim Garth to Laura Wolvaardt, FOUR! SMACKED! Hard length, but wide outside off, offers more width, Laura Wolvaardt moves across a bit and slices it with the horizontal bat for a boundary at deep point.
Kim Garth to Laura Wolvaardt, Landed fuller, around off, Laura Wolvaardt comes forward and nudges it to mid on.
Kim Garth to Beth Mooney, An appeal for LBW from Garth but is turned down by the umpire! Pitches up, much fuller, around middle and leg, seaming in, Beth Mooney comes forward to flick it but gets beaten on the inside edge and gets hit on the front pad. The ball rolls to the off side and they cross for a run. The umpire signals it as runs, so, there might have been an inside edge as well.
Kim Garth to Laura Wolvaardt, Slightly fuller, outside off, Laura drives it towards sweeper cover for a single and gets off the mark.
Kim Garth to Laura Wolvaardt, WIDE! Hard length, wide outside off, over the tramline, Laura Wolvaardt looks to reach out but misses. Called a wide.
Kim Garth to Beth Mooney, A tight single! On a good length, around off, Mooney dabs it towards extra cover and runs for a quick single. Joshitha V J collects the ball and makes a throw to the non striker's end but misses.
Who will bowl from the other end? It will be the former Gujarat player and Bengaluru's new recruit, Kim Garth!
- Laura Wolvaardt 0 (2)
- Beth Mooney 5 (4)
Renuka Singh Thakur to Laura Wolvaardt, Nagging length, down the leg side, seaming in, Laura Wolvaardt looks to flick it but misses and the ball kisses the front pad and goes to the left of the keeper who makes a dive to her left and saves it.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Laura Wolvaardt, WIDE! On a good length but down the leg side, Laura Wolvaardt wants to tickle it but misses. Called a wide.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Laura Wolvaardt, A massive appeal for LBW from Renuka but is turned down! On a good length, seaming in with the angle, around middle and leg, Laura Wolvaardt comes forward to flick but misses and wears it on the front pad. Probably, it is going down the leg side and the replays later confirm the same.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, Back of a length, around off, Mooney taps it towards cover-point where Danni Wyatt-Hodge makes a dive to her right to save a boundary with her outstretched right hand. The batters run for a single.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, Corrects her length and line this time, around the fifth stump, hard length, Beth Mooney transfers her weight to the front foot to block it but gets beaten on the outside edge.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, FOUR! GUJARAT AND MOONEY ARE UNDERWAY! Touch short from Renuka and wide outside off, Beth Mooney gets enough room to extend her arms and cuts it in the gap towards point for a boundary.
Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, Starts with a good-length ball, from over the wicket, around the fourth stump, a hint of outswing, Beth Mooney comes forward and defends it to cover.
Right then, done and dusted with the pre-match proceedings and the crowd gives a roaring cheer as well. We are all set for the game to begin and the umpires are already out in the middle. The players of Bengaluru also make their way out to the middle followed by the pairing of Beth Mooney and Laura Wolvaardt who will open the innings for Gujarat. It will be Renuka Singh Thakur to start things off with the new ball. Let's go...
We are just a few minutes away from the start of the game! However, given it is the season opener, both sets of players and the match officials will lineup for the Indian national anthem.
Bengaluru stalwart, Ellyse Perry is down for a chat. Perry says that it is a nice feeling to be back together and it is exciting to see this competition go from strength to strength every year. Adds that after the Ashes, she spent a bit of time at home before coming here but is excited and happy that there is so much more cricket on the women's calendar. On her hip injury, she says that she is fine and will bat but won't be able to bowl in the first few games. Reckons that in franchise cricket, there are so many changes every year and it just feels like a clean slate while starting a new season. Ends by saying that their home ground in Bengaluru is just fantastic and it will be great to be back there later on in the tournament but the first couple of games here will be crucial as well.
Bengaluru (Playing XI) - Smriti Mandhana (C), Danni Wyatt-Hodge (On debut), Ellyse Perry, Raghvi Bist (On debut), Richa Ghosh (WK), Kanika Ahuja, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth, Prema Rawat (On debut), Joshitha V J (On debut), Renuka Singh Thakur.
Gujarat (Playing XI) - Laura Wolvaardt, Beth Mooney (WK), Dayalan Hemalatha, Ash Gardner (C), Deandra Dottin (On debut), Harleen Deol, Simran Shaikh (On debut), Kashvee Gautam (On debut), Tanuja Kanwer, Sayali Satghare (On debut), Priya Mishra (On debut).
Ash Gardner, the captain of Gujarat says that they would have bowled first as well. Mentions that the preparations have been pretty nice, getting into the sessions quite a few days in advance. Adds that there are always things to work on and they have a great mixture of experience and raw talent and they are excited to get underway. Goes on to inform that they have five debutants in the form of Deandra Dottin, Simran Shaikh, Sayali Satghare, Kashvee Gautam and Priya Mishra and reckons that is quite exciting to see.
Smriti Mandhana, the skipper of Bengaluru, says that it is good to be back here as she was here just one month back and Vadodara has always been a great city for her and she likes to play here. Says that she thought that it would be Gujarat’s home ground but more people have come out to support them. She chooses to field first and says that it is a fresh wicket and it is the first match so the dew factor is there and she wants to utilize that in the second inning. Mentions that the last three practice sessions have been great for the whole group and looks like the squad is looking good. There are some forced changes but the team has shaped up nicely overall. Tells that there is a lot of changes but the four overseas are Ellyse Perry, Georgia Wareham, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, and Kim Garth. Also informs that they have three Indian debutants in the form of Joshitha V J, Prema Rawat and Raghvi Bist.
TOSS - Ash Gardner flicks the coin in the air and Smriti Mandhana calls it correctly. Bengaluru will BOWL first.
BY Charles Dagnall and Mithali Raj
Senior India all-rounder Deepti Sharma takes over UP Warriorz's leadership in the absence of Alyssa Healy, who has opted out of the WPL to manage her injury.
"I don’t think I am under pressure. She (Healy) has played many matches and led her teams efficiently. She was there in the last two seasons, and we will feel her absence slightly," Deepti said.
For Gujarat Giants, Ashleigh Gardner has taken over from Beth Mooney as captain. The Giants have struggled in the past two editions, finishing at the bottom both times.
Looking to turn their fortunes around, they have strengthened their squad with the additions of experienced all-rounder Deandra Dottin, young batter Simran Shaikh, and fast bowler Danielle Gibson.
With teams evolving and domestic talent stepping up, WPL 2024 promises to be another exciting chapter in the rise of women's cricket.
This time, they will be hoping for stronger contributions from the rest of their lineup.
DC boast a formidable batting lineup featuring Shafali Verma, Meg Lanning, Jemimah Rodrigues, Annabel Sutherland, and Marizanne Kapp. Their bowling attack, led by Shikha Pandey, Arundhati Reddy, Titas Sadhu, Jess Jonassen, and Radha Yadav, adds further strength.
"We have improved our squad with the players we brought in. We feel like we are in a good spot to challenge again," Lanning said.
"Firstly, we need to give ourselves the opportunity to reach the final, and then hopefully win this time."
Devine has taken a break from cricket to prioritize her well-being, while Molineux and Cross are sidelined due to injuries.
Additionally, all-rounder Ellyse Perry, Shreyanka Patil, and Asha Sobhana are recovering from injuries, making RCB's campaign even more challenging.
"Most of our players who were in the XI last year are unavailable this season due to injuries. Sophie (Devine) is one of the best all-rounders in the world, so we will definitely miss her," RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana said.
"It will be tough, but mental well-being is more important than anything. We respect that," she added.
Match Statistics
Venue
BCA Stadium, Vadodara
