Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made an ideal begin to their Ladies’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 marketing campaign with a sensational six-wicket win over Gujarat Giants (GG) at Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara, on Friday, February 14.
After successful the toss, RCB opted to bowl first, hoping to limit GG’s for a low complete. Nonetheless, Gujarat Giants put up a complete of 201/5 of their 20 overs, because of captain Ashleigh Gardner’s 79 off 37 balls and Beth Mooney’s strong 56 off 42. Gardner’s innings guided the aspect to a tricky complete regardless of RCB’s Renuka Singh figures of two for 25.
Chasing 202, RCB had a poor begin, dropping Smriti Mandhana (9) and Danni Wyatt (4) early to Gardner. However Ellyse Perry’s 57 off 34 balls, bought the aspect again within the recreation. It was then Richa Ghosh who turned the match with a heroic knock. The wicketkeeper-batter smashed an unbeaten 64 off simply 27 deliveries, lacing her innings with seven fours and 4 sixes. Ghosh discovered assist in Kanika Ahuja, who contributed with 30 off 13 balls, making certain the aspect reached the goal comfortably in 18.3 overs.
Speaking Factors from Match 1 of WPL 2025
1. Smriti Mandhana struggles to fireside
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s skipper Smriti Mandhana failed to fireside with the bat within the opener as she was dismissed by Gujarat Giants captain Ash Gardner within the very second over of the chase. The southpaw was trapped lbw for 9. The Indian star took a overview however walked off understanding her future. This was the ninth time the Australian off-spinner had dismissed Mandhana in T20s.
2. The Aussie duo of Gardner-Mooney takes management
Beth Mooney began WPL 2025 with a bang, changing into the primary participant to attain a half-century within the match’s third season. The batter performed a vital knock of 56 off 42 balls, smashing eight boundaries at a strike price of 133.33. She supplied a powerful begin earlier than falling to Prema Rawat at 85/3. Alongside Mooney, skipper Ashleigh Gardner performed an essential function, making certain GJ-W capitalized on the momentum. The all-rounder remained unbeaten on 79 of 37 balls, lacing her innings with three boundaries and eight sixes. The duo’s 44-run stand was essential for the aspect to submit a complete over the 200-run mark.
3. Bengaluru’s middle-order commanding efficiency
After dropping skipper Smriti Mandhana and opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge below two overs, Bengaluru’s center order brilliantly took management. Ellyse Perry led the fightback with a 57 off 34, whereas Raghvi Bist managed to placed on 25 off 27. The fireworks got here from Richa Ghosh, who hammered an unbeaten 64 off simply 27 balls, and Kanika Ahuja’s unbeaten 30 off 13. Their power-packed efficiency guided Bengaluru to a six-wicket win and an ideal begin to the match.
Additionally Learn: Gujarat skipper Ashleigh Gardner hammers Prema Rawat for hat-trick of sixes in WPL 2025 opener
Who Stated What?
Profitable skipper, Smriti Mandhana:
Actually completely satisfied to be on the successful aspect. The way in which Richa batted, it was good to look at in the long run. They’ve been doing that within the nets to all our bowlers and we at all times thought we have been within the recreation after the primary innings due to the dew. We had a superb public sale and whoever got here in for the injured, thought they have been all good replacements.
Dropping skipper, Ashleigh Gardner:
It’s fairly flattening to be trustworthy, we knew it was a par rating on the midway stage and we dropped some probabilities and it harm us in the long run. There are at all times gonna be positives, there have been some actually good glimpses with the ball as nicely however while you miss these probabilities it could actually harm you, Richa made certain she bought her crew over the road with a superb knock . We all know it’s gonna get very dewy and it was very difficult to carry the ball in the long run, however we’re not gonna use that as an excuse for the loss. We have been in an excellent place to win that recreation, and sadly it wasn’t to be. We wish to hold enjoying fearless cricket with each bat and ball and stay optimistic and the remaining hopefully takes care of itself.
Participant of the Match, Richa Ghosh:
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