RCB Triumphs Over Gujarat Giants with Stellar Bowling Performance in WPL

RCB Secures Third Consecutive Victory

Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 16: The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) maintained their winning streak in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) by defeating the Gujarat Giants (GG) by 32 runs, thanks to a remarkable five-wicket haul from Shreyanka Patil and significant contributions from their middle-order batsmen.

This victory places RCB at the top of the standings with three wins from three matches, while GG sits in third place with two wins and two losses.

During the chase, the opening pair of Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney got off to a strong start, with Mooney hitting Lauren Bell for two fours and a six in the third over.

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

In the following over, Shreyanka Patil took out Mooney, who scored 27 runs off 14 balls, including 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 the team in a tough spot at 46/3 in 6.5 overs.

Kanika Ahuja tried to relieve some pressure by hitting Nadine de Klerk for two consecutive fours, bringing GG to the 50-run mark in 7.2 overs.

However, Shreyanka soon removed Ahuja for 16 runs off 14 balls, leaving GG at 63/4 in 8.5 overs. At the halfway point, GG was 68/4 after 10 overs.

Nadine de Klerk then dismissed Georgia Wareham for 13 runs, further sinking GG to 70/5 in 10.4 overs.

Bharti Fulmali attempted a counter-attack, hitting Arundhati and Linsey Smith for a four and three sixes, helping GG reach the 100-run mark in 13.2 overs.

After 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 taking out Kashvee (18) and Bharti (39 off 20 balls, with three fours and three sixes), reducing GG to 139/7 in 16.3 overs. Lauren continued her excellent bowling by dismissing Shivani Singh for a duck in the 17th over.

Shreyanka sealed the victory for RCB by removing Tanuja Kanwer (21 off 13 balls, with three fours and a six) and Renuka Singh (2) in the 19th over, skittling GG out for 150 runs and winning by 32 runs.

Shreyanka was the standout performer for RCB, claiming 5 wickets for 23 runs in 3.5 overs, while Lauren also delivered an impressive spell with figures of 3/29 in four overs.

Earlier, Radha Yadav's brilliant half-century propelled RCB to a total of 182/7 in their innings against the Gujarat Giants in the ninth match of the WPL 2026.

Batting first, RCB had a fantastic start, with speedster Renuka Singh conceding 23 runs in the opening over, marking the highest runs scored in the first over of an innings in WPL history.

However, in the next over, pacer Kashvee Gautam dismissed opener Grace Harris, who was adjudged LBW after scoring 17 runs off eight balls with four boundaries. After three overs, RCB was at 30/1.

Kashvee struck again in the fourth over, taking out Shivani Singh for four runs. In the following over, RCB lost their captain, Smriti Mandhana, who was dismissed by Renuka Singh for just five runs.

Wickets continued to tumble as RCB lost Gautami Naik during the sixth over, with Sophie Devine claiming her wicket. Naik scored nine runs, including two fours, leaving RCB at 45/4 after six overs.

This marked the second instance of RCB losing four wickets within the first six overs in the WPL, having previously done so against the Mumbai Indians in 2023.

Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh and Radha Yadav steadied the innings, bringing RCB to 80/4 at the 10-over mark.

In the 12th over, Radha and Richa completed a 50-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Radha reached her fifty in 36 balls during the last ball of the 15th over, with RCB at 131/4.

The duo rescued RCB's innings, stitching a 100-run partnership by the end of the 16th over.

Spinner Georgia Wareham broke the crucial partnership by dismissing Richa Ghosh in the 17th over. In the 19th over, Kashvee conceded 22 runs, allowing RCB to reach 178/5.

Sophie Devine, bowling the final over, took two wickets, dismissing Nadine de Klerk (26 off 12 balls) and Radha Yadav, who scored a fantastic 66 runs off 47 balls, including six fours and three sixes, as RCB finished with 182/7.

Notable wicket-takers included Sophie Devine (3/31), Kashvee Gautam (2/42), Renuka Singh (1/41), and Georgia Wareham (1/35).

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).