RCB Triumphs Over Gujarat Giants with Shreyanka Patil's Stellar Performance

RCB Secures Third Consecutive Victory

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) maintained their winning streak by defeating Gujarat Giants (GG) by 32 runs in Navi Mumbai on Friday. Shreyanka Patil's impressive five-wicket haul and significant contributions from the middle-order players propelled RCB to their third consecutive win in the Women's Premier League (WPL).

With this victory, RCB leads the tournament with three wins from three matches, while GG sits in third place with two wins and two losses.

Patil's Five-Wicket Haul Disrupts GG's Chase

In the chase, GG's opening pair, Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney, started strong, with Mooney hitting Lauren Bell for two fours and a six in the third over.

RCB's Arundhati Reddy broke the partnership by dismissing Devine for 8 runs off 12 balls, leaving GG at 34/1 in 3.4 overs.

Shreyanka Patil then struck, removing Mooney for 27 runs off 14 balls, which included four boundaries and a six, reducing GG to 38/2 in five overs.

At the end of the power play, GG was at 44/2 after six overs.

In the seventh over, Lauren Bell dismissed GG captain Ash Gardner for just 3 runs, putting GG in a tough spot at 46/3.

Kanika Ahuja attempted to stabilize the innings by hitting Nadine de Klerk for two consecutive fours, bringing GG to 50 runs in 7.2 overs.

However, Shreyanka dismissed Ahuja for 16 runs off 14 balls, leaving GG at 63/4 in 8.5 overs.

Halfway through, GG was at 68/4 after 10 overs.

Nadine de Klerk then took out Georgia Wareham for 13 runs, further sinking GG to 70/5.

Bharti Fulmali tried to counterattack, hitting Arundhati and Linsey Smith for a four and three sixes, helping GG reach 100 runs in 13.2 overs.

At the end of 15 overs, GG was at 122/5, with Fulmali (39*) and Kashvee Gautam (14*) still at the crease.

Shreyanka and Lauren then turned the game around for RCB by dismissing Kashvee (18) and Bharti (39 runs off 20 balls) respectively, reducing GG to 139/7.

Lauren continued her excellent bowling by getting Shivani Singh out for a duck in the 17th over.

Shreyanka sealed the victory for RCB by taking out Tanuja Kanwer (21 runs off 13 balls) and Renuka Singh (2 runs) in the 19th over.

RCB bowled out GG for 150 runs, winning by 32 runs. Shreyanka's figures were an impressive 5/23 in 3.5 overs, while Lauren also delivered a remarkable spell with 3/29.

Yadav and Ghosh Steady RCB After Early Wickets

Earlier in the match, Radha Yadav's brilliant half-century helped RCB post a total of 182/7 in their innings against GG.

RCB started strong, with Renuka Singh conceding 23 runs in the first over, marking the highest runs scored in the first over of an innings in WPL history.

However, GG's Kashvee Gautam quickly struck, dismissing opener Grace Harris LBW for 17 runs off 8 balls.

After three overs, RCB was at 30/1.

Kashvee continued her good form, taking out Shivani Singh for just 4 runs in the fourth over.

RCB's captain, Smriti Mandhana, fell next to Renuka Singh, scoring only 5 runs.

The wickets kept tumbling as RCB lost Gautami Naik to Sophie Devine, leaving them at 45/4 after six overs.

This marked the second instance in WPL history where RCB lost four wickets within the first six overs.

Wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh and Radha Yadav then stabilized the innings, bringing RCB to 80/4 at the halfway mark.

In the 12th over, they completed a 50-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Radha reached her fifty in 36 balls during the 15th over, with RCB at 131/4.

The duo's partnership exceeded 100 runs by the end of the 16th over.

Georgia Wareham eventually broke the partnership by dismissing Richa Ghosh in the 17th over.

In the 19th over, Kashvee conceded 22 runs, helping RCB reach 178/5.

Sophie Devine, bowling the final over, took two wickets, dismissing Nadine de Klerk (26 runs off 12 balls) and Radha Yadav (66 runs off 47 balls), leading RCB to a total of 182/7.

Sophie Devine (3/31), Kashvee Gautam (2/42), Renuka Singh (1/41), and Georgia Wareham (1/35) were the key wicket-takers for GG.

Match Summary

Brief scores: Royal Challengers Bengaluru 182/7 in 20 overs (Radha Yadav 66, Richa Ghosh 44; Sophie Devine 3/31) vs Gujarat Giants: 150 (Bharti Fulmali 39, Beth Mooney 27, Shreyanka Patil 5/23).