Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Gujarat Giants by 61 runs thanks to a superb half-century from Gautami Naik in Vadodara on Monday, securing a top-three finish in the Women’s Premier League.
RCB, who haven’t lost yet, won five matches in a row and were the first team to secure a knockout spot.
Table-toppers RCB didn’t have the best start when they were sent in to bat; they lost Georgia Voll and Grace Harris in the second over, with the scoreboard showing just nine, before Naik kept the innings together to lead RCB to a solid 178/6.
GG lost four wickets for 34 within the seventh over after failing to get their act together at the start of the chase. Anushka Sharma, Sophie Devine, Beth Mooney, and Kanika Ahuja left early. Georgia Wareham and Kshvee Gautam did not help their cause either.
Bharti Fulmali (14) and captain Ashleigh Gardner (54 off 43 balls) attempted to salvage their innings but were unable to do so.
GG ended at 117/8 despite Gardner’s five boundaries and one six during her knock. With numbers of 3/21, right arm medium pacer Sayali Satghare maintained her excellent form and emerged as the best bowler. Nadine de Klerk skillfully assisted her (2/17).
In order to stabilize RCB’s batting earlier, captain Smriti Mandhana (26 off 23 balls) and Naik added 60 runs for the third wicket. Ashleigh Gardner ended the partnership by catching Mandhana plumb in front of the wicket after a successful review.
RCB got a boost when Naik (73 off 55 balls, 7x4s, 1×6) and Richa Ghosh (27 off 20 balls) combined to score 69 runs for the fourth wicket. Ghosh made excellent use of her long handle and hit three sixes to amass 27 runs off 20 balls, even though Naik dominated the partnership.
In the 18th over, Naik was ultimately dismissed by Gardner before Radha Yadav (17 off 8 balls) came up with a brief cameo to help RCB reach 178/6.
