RCB’s Struggles Continue with Third Consecutive Loss
The Gujarat Giants have handed the Royal Challengers Bangalore their third consecutive defeat on home ground, winning by 6 wickets in their Women’s Premier League (WPL 2025) match. Chasing a target of 126, Gujarat captain Ashley Gardner led the charge with a remarkable innings of 58 runs, steering her team to victory. This loss has added to the challenges faced by Royal Challengers Bangalore, captained by Smriti Mandhana.
Initially, the Gujarat Giants were off to a slow start, but they managed to make a strong comeback in the middle order. Although their openers, Dayalan Hemlata (11) and Beth Mooney (17), couldn’t muster big innings, captain Ashley Gardner’s explosive performance made the team’s victory almost effortless.
Ashley Gardner’s Stellar Performance
Gardner scored 58 runs in just 31 balls, including 3 sixes and 6 fours. Her batting was highlighted by two consecutive sixes hit right after she reached her half-century. Before being dismissed, she had practically secured her team’s win. Phoebe Litchfield provided strong support with 30 unbeaten runs off 21 balls, including 1 six and 3 fours.
RCB’s Innings
The Royal Challengers Bangalore finished their innings at 125 runs. After losing the toss and choosing to bat, RCB’s batting struggled, with the fall of early wickets putting them under pressure. Kanika Ahuja (33) and Anand Singh Bisht (22) shared a 48-run partnership, stabilizing RCB’s innings. Georgia Wareham played a crucial role in bringing the innings to 100 with her contribution of 20 runs in the final overs.
Diandra Dottin and Tanuja Kanwar each took 2 wickets for the Gujarat Giants, while Ash Gardner and Kashvi Gautam secured 1 wicket each.
Impact on the Points Table
The victory for the Gujarat Giants has made the points table more intriguing. Although there’s been no change in the positions of the teams, the last three teams are now closely tied. RCB remains in third place, followed by UP in fourth, and Gujarat in fifth. Each of these teams has won 2 out of 5 matches, with 4 points each, setting the stage for a thrilling competition ahead.
