RCB-W eye to bolster their climb in the points table against struggling Giants

After a sudden slump in two back-to-back games where RCB-W went down fighting against Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians, they roared back to winning ways as they trumped UP Warriorz in their last encounter. The batters were in scintillating touch as Smriti Mandhana led from the front with an 80, while Ellyse Perry too notched up a half-century (58).

While the RCB batters pulled off a sensational batting display, their bowlers matched up to the task with another rollicking showdown that left the Warriorz 23 runs short of the target. 

As they prepare to lock horns with the Giants, who are still to register their first win in WPL 2024, the Smriti-led side will be hopeful of continuing their momentum.

Gujarat Giants, on the other hand, do have the firepower to pull off miracles but somehow this season has been lackluster for them. With four losses in as many games, the Giants have endured woeful form, but they will want to put up a stern challenge against RCB in the quest of their first win.

Key player battles:

Smriti Mandhana vs Tanuja Kanwar

Mandhana is the leading run scorer of the ongoing edition of the WPL with a screaming 219 runs next to her name. Her blistering 80 in the last match will make her a perfect pick to lead the charge for RCB-W on and off the field as well. Tanuja Kanwar is the leading wicket taker for Gujarat Giants with six scalps to her name while her miserly economy rate of 7.3 is of essence too.

Ellyse Perry vs Beth Mooney

Perry’s all-round flair will certainly be put to the test as her national teammate, Beth Mooney will be crucial in the ranks of the Giants. Two hard-hitters who know each other inside out, will be looking around for opportunities to leave the opposition flattened. Perry was in terrific touch in the last game where she crashed the glass of the car stationed outside the playing field and her half-century was another reason why she can never be kept silent. Beth Mooney has amassed 60 runs so far in the tournament but then if she gets going, Ellyse Perry coming with her bowling flair can be a game-changer.

Sophie Devine vs Ashleigh Gardner

Gardner and Devine have been long-time foes in international cricket and both the names have been doing rounds in terms of legendary displays for an eternity now. Devine’s bat may have been silent so far in the tournament but her haul of five wickets already will make her a perfect pick against the mighty Ashleigh Gardner who is leading the run-scorer for Gujarat Giants with a tally of 98 runs.

Match Details:

Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Gujarat Giants

Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi

Date: 6th March, 2023

Time: 7:30 PM IST

Squads:

Royal Challengers Bangalore:

Asha Shobana, Disha Kasat, Ellyse Perry*, Indrani Roy, Shradda Pokharkar, Renuka Singh, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Smriti Mandhana, Sophie Devine*, Georgia Wareham*, Kate Cross*, Ekta Bisht, Shubha Satheesh, S Meghana, Simran Bahadur, Sophie Molineux*, Nadine de Klerk*

Gujarat Giants:

Beth Mooney (Capt.), Ashleigh Gardner, D. Hemalatha, Harleen Deol, Laura Wolvaardt, M.D. Shabnam, Sneh Rana, Tanuja Kanwar, Phoebe Litchfield, Meghna Singh, Trisha Poojitha, Sayali Satghare, Priya Mishra, Kathryn Bryce, Mannat Kashyap, Veda Krishnamurthy, Tarannum Pathan, Lea Tahuhu.