Royal Challengers Bengaluru started the WPL title defence in style as they recorded the tournament’s highest-ever chase of 202 against Gujarat Giants Women on February 14. A record number of runs were scored on Friday night in Vadodara, and Ashleigh Gardner equalled the record with Devine for the most sixes in an inning with eight sixes but still ended up on the losing side.
Records Galore at Vadodara in Match 1
It is only the second time a 200-plus target was successfully chased in Women’s T20s. The previous one was West Indies chasing 213 against Australia.
- 403 Runs scored by Gujarat Giants (GG) and RCB on Friday in Vadodara is the highest in any WPL game.
- It was the first time RCB Women have breached the 200 mark in WPL in three editions.
- 8 sixes by Ash Gardner in her innings of 79* was the joint highest with Sophie Devine.
- 93-run partnership between Richa and Kanika was the highest for the fifth wicket in WPL.
- 16 – Sixes were scored by GG and RCB is the second most in any WPL game.
Drop Catches Hurt Gujarat Giants
For the third time in three seasons, Gujarat Giants kickstarted their Women’s Premier League campaign with a defeat. Despite putting up 200 on the board in the first innings and picking up two early wickets they could not get the win.
Plenty of drop catches and misfielding were among the main reasons for the loss. While Perry got two lives – while batting on 2 and 11, Ghosh was dropped even before she had got off the mark by Simran and went on to score an unbeaten 67.
Klinger pleased with the batting approach despite the loss
Gujarat Giants coach Micheal Klinger was pleased with the way Gujarat Giants started off with the bat. In the post-match press conference, he said “If we bat like that, you know, throughout the tournament, we’re going to win a lot of games of cricket. So that’s a real positive to take out of the game.” Gujarat Giants will next face UP Warriors at the same venue tomorrow.
