WPL 2025: Ashleigh Gardner's heroics help Gujarat Giants defeat RCB
What's the story
In a thrilling encounter, the Gujarat Giants defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025.
The match at Chinnaswamy Stadium saw the Giants end their losing streak and clinch their second win of the season.
The victory came largely on the back of an impressive performance by Ashleigh Gardner against rookie Prema Rawat in a crucial ninth over.
Gardner scored 58 from 31 balls as GG chased down RCB's score of 125/7.
Performance review
Perry's 1st duck in WPL
Ellyse Perry, who had been on fire despite a hip injury, suffered an unexpected blow.
She was dismissed for her first duck in the WPL after mistiming a shot from Gardner to Tanuja Kanwar at square leg.
This came after Danni Wyatt-Hodge's lbw in the first over to Deandra Dottin, leaving RCB at 16 for 2 in two overs.
Match progression
Mandhana's struggle and Ahuja's momentum
Smriti Mandhana had a tough time at the crease, getting beaten time and again by Kashvee Gautam.
Her woes ended up with her getting out to spin yet again as she slog-swept Kanwar to Harleen Deol at deep midwicket for 10 off 20 balls.
Meanwhile, Kanika Ahuja brought momentum into RCB's innings with her explosive batting against Priya Mishra, hitting two sixes in an over and scoring a vital 33 off 27 before falling to Kanwar.
Turning point
Giants's opening woes and Gardner's surge
The Giants struggled with their opening combination as D Hemalatha couldn't deliver despite getting multiple chances.
However, the Giants's fortunes changed with a 19-run over off Rawat in the ninth.
Gardner took advantage of Rawat's inexperience, deftly using the depth of the crease to pull and drive when the ball was tossed up.
This momentum paved the way for a comfortable Giants's win.
Match conclusion
Litchfield's reverse sweeps seal victory for Giants
Phoebe Litchfield, in just her second game of the competition, showed brilliant game awareness.
She played a flurry of reverse sweeps to quickly negate any pressure and lower the required rate.
Even after Richa Ghosh dropped her catch when she was on 11 off Rana with Giants needing 39 off 42, Litchfield kept her tempo and adventurous approach.
This helped Gardner who hit Wareham for back-to-back sixes on her way to her third half-century of the season, this time off 28 balls.