RCB-W on a roll as they tame Gujarat Giants emphatically in a lopsided encounter

The Royal Challengers Bangalore women’s team registered their second consecutive win in the ongoing WPL 2024 as they tamed the Gujarat Giants comfortably in their own backyard. Riding high on an imperious bowling display, Smriti Mandhana and company set the tone perfectly for a swashbuckling finish.

Winning the toss, RCB-W opted to bowl first. They started off with an unchanged side from the one that secured a thrilling win against UP Warriorz in the season opener. Renuka Singh led the charge up front for the Royal Challengers as she got the better of Beth Mooney (8) with an absolute jaffa.

Phoebe Litchfield (5) was also on her way back in no time whatsoever and Renuka was at it once again. Wheezing one past the advancing Litchfield, it was Richa Ghosh who dislodged the bails in time to get rid of the dangerous Aussie contender.

Veda Krishnamurthy was up next as Sophie Molineux forced her to hole out to Georgia Wareham for just nine runs. It was Molineux once again at the heart of destruction of the Giants with an electric piece of fielding that got rid of the dangerous Harleen Deol for 22.

With Ashleigh Gardner hoping to stabilize the ship, despite an early show of resistance she couldn’t get going either as Georgia Wareham claimed the former for just seven. Despite a late show of resilience from Dayalan Hemlatha (31), the RCB-W bowlers were absolutely brilliant to restrict the Giants for a modest 107/7 at the end of their 20 overs.

Molineux was the pick of the bowling lot with figures of 3/25 while Renuka Singh’s early double whammy left Gujarat Giants struggling. Despite Sophie Devine falling early in the chase with Gardner drawing first blood for the visitors, it was a phenomenal display from the captain, Smriti Mandhana that sealed the fate of the contest.

Mandhana blasted 43 from 27 balls, hammering eight fours and a six while Sabbhineni Meghana stayed unbeaten for 36 from 28 balls to complement her skipper. Ellyse Perry’s late blitzkrieg (14-ball 23*) sealed the fate of the tie as RCB-W secured an 8-wicket win with 45 balls to spare. Renuka Singh Thakur won the Player of the Match for her defining display up front that shaped up the rest of the fray.