Gujarat Giants (GG) snapped their losing streak in style, securing a six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 on Thursday. Ashleigh Gardner led the charge with a blistering 58 off 31 balls, guiding GG to victory in just 16.3 overs while chasing RCB’s below-par 125/7.
GG’s Bowling Domination
Opting to bowl first, GG’s bowlers delivered a clinical performance:
- Deandra Dottin (2/31) & Tanuja Kanwar (2/16) dismantled RCB’s top order early.
- Gardner (1/22) & Kashvee Gautam (1/17) provided solid support.
- RCB was reduced to 25/3 inside the powerplay, with star batter Ellyse Perry (0 off 4) falling early after scoring three fifties in her last four games.
RCB’s Middle-Order Resistance Falls Short
Despite the early collapse, Kanika Ahuja (33 off 28, 2x6s) and Ragvi Bist (22 off 19, 1×6) staged a brief fightback, adding 48 runs off 37 balls. However, GG struck back quickly, with:
- Kanika miscuing a big hit, resulting in a brilliant diving catch by Kanwar.
- Bist run out immediately after a dropped catch.
Georgia Wareham (20* off 21) and Richa Ghosh (9 off 10) attempted to rebuild, but Kashvee’s pinpoint yorker dismissed Ghosh, keeping GG in full control.
Gardner’s Fireworks Seal Victory
Chasing 126, GG’s top order stumbled, with Beth Mooney (17), Dayalan Hemalatha (11), and Harleen Deol (5) falling cheaply. But Gardner took charge, smashing:
- Three sixes & six fours
- Half-century in just 28 balls, bringing it up with back-to-back sixes
She took apart Prema Rawat’s over, plundering 19 runs, sealing GG’s second win of the season.
Key Takeaways:
✅ Ashleigh Gardner (58 off 31) – Match-winning knock 🔥
✅ GG’s bowlers dominated – Kanwar & Dottin key contributors
✅ RCB’s top order collapsed – Perry dismissed for a duck
✅ GG chase successful in 16.3 overs – Comfortable victory
GG’s win breathes new life into their WPL campaign, while RCB will need to regroup after their poor batting display.