By In a standout performance, Beth Mooney’s unbeaten 85 off 51 balls and Laura Wolvaardt’s 76 off 45 set the stage for Gujarat Giants’ first win of the season in the Women’s Premier League. Their partnership of 140 runs off 78 balls, the second-highest in WPL history, propelled the Giants to a formidable total of 199/5, the highest of the season. Despite a late surge from Georgia Wareham, Royal Challengers Bangalore fell short by 19 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Gujarat Giants had struggled in their previous matches, posting low totals in three out of four games. However, against RCB, Wolvaardt and Mooney’s aggressive start, with 59 runs in the first six overs, set a different tone. The pair continued to dominate, with Wolvaardt reaching her fifty off 32 balls and Mooney following suit. Their onslaught saw the Giants reach 155 in 15 overs, putting RCB under pressure.
RCB tried to contain the Giants, but Mooney’s hitting, including a six and several boundaries, kept the scoreboard ticking. However, a run-out ended Wolvaardt’s innings, leading to a slight slowdown. RCB managed to pick up wickets towards the end, restricting the Giants to 199/5.
In response, RCB started steadily but lost momentum after Smriti Mandhana’s dismissal. Despite Wareham’s efforts, RCB kept losing wickets at crucial junctures. Wareham’s 48 off 22 balls gave RCB some hope, but with 33 needed off the last over, they fell short, finishing at 180/8. Ashleigh Gardner’s 2-23 and Gujarat Giants’ overall performance secured their maiden victory in the tournament.
