RCB vs GG, Match 5: The Gujarat Giants are yet to get off the mark in the WPL 2024 season. After suffering a 5-wicket defeat at the hands of the defending champions, the Mumbai Indians, the Beth Mooney-led side will look to start their title contention with a win. However, to do so, they must go against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at their home ground, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Under the leadership of Smriti Mandhana, the Royals managed to win a last-ball thriller against the UP Warriorz. Playing their first match at home, RCB were at their best after a disappointing last season.
The Royals aim for collective performance rather than individual brilliance.
RCB didn’t have a good start with the bat in their opening match. Smriti Mandhana and Sophie Devine didn’t make a mark, but their middle-order batters, Richa Ghosh and Sabbhineni Meghana, stood up. What bodes well for the Royals is the fact that their star openers and all-rounder, Ellyse Perry, haven’t fired yet. If these three come to the party, the Warriorz will have a lot of problems at their disposal.
Their bowling had a similar pattern. Renuka Thakur, Shreyanka Patil, and Perry didn’t get a scalp, but their spin trio of Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux, and Asha Sobhana worked wonders, with the Indian claiming a five-wicket haul.
Batting no show and bowlers ineffective for the Giants
The Giants have a forgettable match against the Mumbai Indians. Their batting never stood up, with no player crossing the 30-run mark. However, late hits from tailenders Tanuja Kanwar and Kathryn Bryce were a shining light in an otherwise lackluster performance with the bat.
Their bowling wasn’t much better. Mainline bowlers Sneh Rana, Meghna Singh, and Ashleigh Gardner went wicketless, but Bryce and Kanwar shined with the ball as well, while Lea Tahuhu also chipped in with a solitary wicket.
RCB vs GG: Squads
Royal Challengers Bangalore Women: Asha Shobana, Disha Kasat, Ellyse Perry, Indrani Roy, Nadine de Klerk, Renuka Singh, Richa Ghosh, Shraddha Pokharkar, Shreyanka Patil, Smriti Mandhana (c), Sophie Devine, Georgia Wareham, Kate Cross, Ekta Bisht, Shubha Satheesh, S Meghana, Simran Bahadur, Sophie Molineux.
Gujarat Giants: Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney (c), Dayalan Hemalatha, Harleen Deol, Laura Wolvaardt. Shabnam Shakil, Sneh Rana, Tanuja Kanwar, Phoebe Litchfield, Meghna Singh, Trisha Poojitha, Priya Mishra, Lea Tahuhu, Kathryn Bryce, Mannat Kashyap, Veda Krishnamurthy, Tarannum Pathan, Sayali Sathgare.
Editors pick
