Gujarat Giants cantered through to their chase of 126 against RCB Women in Bengaluru on Friday. This was their second win of this WPL campaign and the third loss on the trot for RCB.
After a slowish start to the chase where they lost three wickets inside the first 10 overs, Gujarat Giants came back into the match through a 51-run stand between Ashleigh Gardner (58 off 31) and Phoebe Litchfield (30*off 21).
Gardner especially played a counter-attacking knock with six fours and three sixes and the youngster was happy to play the second fiddle. The 51-run stand knocked RCB out of the game as their bowlers had no answer to the onslaught by Gardner. The GG skipper played a decisive innings against RCB and notched up her third fifty of this year's WPL.
With that knock, she has now crossed 200 runs for the season. Gardner lost her wicket with the Giants on the brink of victory in the 16th over of the innings with the team score on 117. Phoebe Litchfield's six off Kim Garth brought the side closer to the total and they won the match in the 17th over with Garth bowling a wide.
Ashleigh Gardner Notches Up Third WPL 2025 Fifty
The Giants now have four points from five games. However, a negative NRR meant that they are still at the bottom of the points table. Meanwhile, the defending champions lost their third consecutive game this season. Barring Mumbai Indians Women every team has now played five games with the season moving towards the second half of the tournament.
All the remaining games are crucial for every team but more crucial for RCB at home. They have lost every game they have played at home so far. The hosts take on Delhi Capitals women in their final game at home on Sunday looking to give some joy to their fans.
" I don't think we batted really well in the powerplay. We tried too hard and didn't assess the conditions. The wicket was a lot different than the other games. This is going to really hurt us. Cricket is such and you have to take it. We'll have to lift ourselves and come back. We'll be looking into all three departments. As a team, we have to step up. They've done extremely well in domestic cricket, Kanika unfortunately missed out last season. Happy for them. Hopefully we all start contributing" said a dejected Smriti Mandhana after the end of the match.
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