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The Gujarat Giants led by Beth Mooney, who lost their opening four matches, made a dominant comeback in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2024 with a statement win against Smriti Mandhana's Royal Challengers Bangalore Women on Wednesday. GG openers Laura Wolvaardt and Beth Mooney ran riot against RCB Women while Ashleigh Gardner seized the match for the Giants.
After winning the toss, Beth Mooney elected to bat first and the outcome was fruitful for the Giants as they managed to win the game by 19 runs. Openers Wolvaardt and Mooney registered GG's best start of the season with 59 runs in the powerplay, which they stretched to a 140-run partnership for the opening wicket. The Giants' skipper stayed at the crease till the last ball to make sure her side posted a huge total and they succeeded in putting a 200-run target.
RCB Women's bowling attack looked harmless in front of Mooney and Wolvaardt as Sophie Molineux ended up as the most economical bowler for Bengaluru by picking 1 for 32 in four overs. Sophie Devine went big as she gave away 37 runs in her three overs without a wicket.
During the chase, skipper Smriti Mandhana (24-off-16) continued from where she left in the last match against the UP Warriorz, however, her presence on the pitch was cut short by Ashleigh Gardner. The Australian all-rounder dismissed Mandhana on the first ball of the fifth over and went on to bowl a maiden over.
Bengaluru's Elysse Perry played the most deliveries (23) for her side and scored 24 runs with three fours. The RCB Women's middle order kept fighting, however, they failed to stay for a longer time on the crease except for Georgia Wareham, who smashed 48-off-22 with six fours and two sixes. The fall of wickets helped the Giants to clinch the match by 19 runs and register their first win of the ongoing campaign.
