Royal Challengers Bengaluru scripted the best-ever run chase in the history of Women’s Premier League as they defeated Gujarat Giants at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on Friday.
The Smriti Mandhana-led outfit gunned down 202 runs after deciding to bowl first earlier in the day. The previous record was held by Mumbai Indians, who ticked off 191 runs against Gujarat Giants on March 9, 2024.
Buoyed by new skipper Ashleigh Gardner’s unbeaten 79 and opener Beth Mooney’s half-century, the Giants posted a total of 201 in the stipulated 20 overs. The defending champion were dealt early blows in reply as both Smriti and Danni Wyatt-Hodge were sent back by Gardner in just the second over of the innings.
However, Ellyse Perry weathered the storm with a well-compiled half-century, post which a 93-run partnership was forged by youngsters Richa Ghosh (64 not out off 27 balls) and Kanika Ahuja (30 not out off 13 balls) to lead RCB to victory.
For the third time in three seasons, Gujarat Giants began their Women’s Premier League campaign with a defeat, and much of the blame goes to their sloppy fielding. While Perry received two lives – on 2 and 11, Ghosh was dropped even before she had got off the mark.
𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 👌👌
Richa Ghosh does it in style for #RCB 😍
This is also the highest successful run-chase in #TATAWPL history🔥
Scorecard👉 https://t.co/jjI6oXJcBI #GGvRCB | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/9Ea3gJ6JP1
— Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 14, 2025
