WPL Review: Ash Gardner stars in Gujarat’s second victory
The Gujarat Giants Women claimed victory against Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women by six wickets and 21 deliveries to spare in Match 12 of Women’s Premier League 2025 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Thursday, February 27.
Electing to field first, Gujarat got off to a terrific start with the ball, dismissing three of the hosts’ batters within the powerplay. It was a rare failure for Ellyse Perry, as she departed for a four-ball duck. Raghvi Bist and Kanika Ahuja tried their best to stabilise the innings and were even successful in doing so till a point. However, the two getting dismissed for 22 and 33 in successive overs left Bengaluru with a mountain to climb.
Some crucial lower-order runs from Georgia Wareham and Kim Garth led Bengaluru to total of 125/7. As for Gujarat, Tanuja Kanwar was the pick of the bowlers; conceding 2/16 in her four overs. Deandra Dottin also managed to scalp a couple of wickets. Ashleigh Gardner and Kashvee Gautam ended the day with a sub-six economy rate.
It was a cautious start by Gujarat while approaching the run-chase. Renuka Singh struck twice to dismiss Beth Mooney and Dayalan Hemalatha within the powerplay before A 19-run over by Prema Rawat provided a much-need boost for Gujarat, with the required run rate being brought down sharply. Georgia Wareham dismissed a scratchy Harleen Deol in her first over.
Phoebe Litchfield and Gardner rotated the strike around from thereon while rhe occasional boundary was also hit calculatedly. Gardner brought up her third fifty of the season in stunning style. However, she departed soon after, providing Wareham with her second wicket of the day. Litchfield remained unbeaten till the end, enabling Gujarat to a win after two successive losses.
Top Performers of the match
Ashleigh Gardner (58 off 31)
After a lean batting form in the past couple of games, Gujarat’s skipper was on her A-game yet again. Her 58-run knock off 31 deliveries totally took the game away from Bengaluru. Her blazing innings comprised six fours and three sixes.
Tanuja Kanwar (2/16 in four overs)
The left-arm spinner was really precise with her line & length throughout her four-over spell. She did not concede any boundaries. After getting rid of Smriti Mandhana on her second delivery, she pouched a caught-and-bowled chance to leave Bengaluru in all sorts of trouble.
What’s next for both sides?
RCB-W will take on Delhi Capitals Women as a part of the last game of the Bengaluru leg of the tournament on Saturday, March 1. GG-W will kickstart the Lucknow segment by locking horns with UP Warriorz Women on Monday, March 3. Both the games are scheduled to commence on 7:30 pm (IST).
