Gujarat Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Women, WPL 2024, Highlights: Gujarat Giants Register 1st Win

Right then, that is it from this game. Gujarat are up and running this season while Bangalore will need to come back stronger in their upcoming fixture. Next up in the Women's T20 League is a crucial encounter between UP and Mumbai. That game will be played on 7th March, Thursday at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT), but as you know, you can always join us early for all the build-up to the match. Until then, cheers and goodbye.

Beth Mooney, the victorious skipper of Gujarat is also the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for her amazing knock. She says that it was a bit too close for her liking but is happy with the win. Adds that everyone responded well and she knows that there were a few eyebrows raised when they chose to bat first. Praises Laura Wolvaardt for her knock but reckons they could have got 10-15 runs more. Mentions that they tried to be conventional and keep it simple and it was amazing to see her opening partner bat. Says that she is happy that she could contribute towards the success of the team. Further adds that they bowled well in the Powerplay with Ashleigh Gardner leading from the front and there will be  a hard

Smriti Mandhana, the captain of Bangalore says that she had a chat with the players and she knows that they didn't have the best start. But she reckons that 200 was chasable but they failed to build any decent partnerships. She praises the opposition, the way they started, and had a good total on the board to pile the pressure on her team. Ends up praising Georgia Wareham for the way she batted and she also states that her knock helped them to get closer to the target.

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Ashleigh Gardner is up for a quick chat. She says that she is really happy to get their first win. She continues that they were waiting for it for five games and there's a lot of excitement in the group. Also says that it was their best powerplay. States that they knew that they had to score 200 and defend it to win against a strong team like Bangalore. Ends up saying that they gained a lot of confidence after the game and they are ready to face Mumbai.

Earlier in the game, Gujarat posted the highest total of this season courtesy of two brilliant knocks from Laura Wolvaardt and skipper Beth Mooney of 76 and 85 respectively. Sophie Molineux and Georgia Wareham chipped in with one wicket each while the other was in the form of run outs. While chasing, Smriti Mandhana did give them a quick start but it was a struggle after her wicket. There were a couple of positives, including a notable cameo from Wareham in the end but it was Gujarat who sealed their first win of the season.

Gujarat, on the other hand, were looking to make early inroads and they did exactly that through the experienced Aussie Ashleigh Gardner got the big wicket of Smriti Mandhana while a lovely piece of fielding from Laura Wolvaardt sent Sabbhineni Meghana back. They let the opposition build a little partnership but Tanuja broke that and got the momentum back in their side. However, they did take a beating in the death overs but Kathryn Bryce and Ash stepped up to send Ellyse Perry and Richa Ghosh back respectively to push Bangalore further on the back foot. The 16-year-old debutant, Shabnam Shakil also was pretty economical and looks like one for the future. Georgia Wareham did give them a scare in the end but they had enough runs in their kitty and got over the line.

Bangalore got off to a decent start with Smriti Mandhana playing a few lusty blows, but couldn't hang around for much longer which was a big blow for them. A slight mix-up in the middle cost Sabbhineni Meghana her wicket. It was Ellyse Perry and Sophie Devine who had to take responsibility after that. They steadied the ship for a bit, but the latter lost her wicket trying to up the ante, while the Aussie also followed suit. After that, Richa Ghosh took matters into her own hands and started going after the bowlers, while Georgia Wareham also supported well. They kept them in the game but the wicket of Ghosh in the 17th over took the sting out of them. Wareham did play a few more lusty blows and smashed 48 off just 22 balls but that was not going to be enough as they fell short by 19 runs in the end.

GUJARAT FINALLY OPENS THEIR ACCOUNT! They do it in some style as well getting a comprehensive win over Bangalore.  Beth Mooney at the toss took a bit of a risk batting first, but it turned out to be the correct decision. The skipper led from the front while Laura Wolvaardt played her part effectively as well. Bangalore though, will feel that this was still chasable, but none of their batter could play that big knock which proved to be the downfall for them.

OUT! RUN OUT! The seventh of the match to end proceedings here! Good-length delivery on off. Ekta Bisht miscues her pull towards long on and tries for a double.  Veda Krishnamurthy is quick to pick up and fires in a throw at the non-striker's end where Ashleigh Gardner does the rest. Gujarat gets their first win of the campaign against Bangalore and wins by 19 runs.

Chance of a run out but misses by the skipper!  Short and wide outside off. Ekta Bisht pulls it towards deep mid-wicket region and calls for a double. The fielder has a shy at the striker's end but Beth Mooney was a bit let to disrupt the stump as Ekta Bisht was a few inches short of the crease.

SIX! Ekta Bisht goes for a maximum!  Low full toss on off. Ekta Bisht heaves it and sails it over the deep mid-wicket fence for her first maximum.

Flighted, full and on middle, Ekta Bisht chips it over the bowler for a brace.

Flatter, full and on middle, Simran Bahadur goes for the sweep but gets tanglres up as the ball goes off her pads to short third man. A leg bye is taken.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Ekta Bisht goes for the sweep but gets a top edge that falls safely over the bowler's head. They cross.

Ekta Bisht walks out to bat now. Also, Ashleigh Gardner to bowl the last over.

OUT! RUN OUT! Another bites the dust! Fuller delivery on off. Simran Bahadur drives it towards long on and tries for a double but Laura Wolvaardt collects it and throws it at the non-striker's end. Meghna Singh collects and breaks the stumps again with Georgia Wareham well short of her crease. She goes after playing a cracking knock here, albeit in a losing cause.

Chance of a run out but misses!  Yorker, outside off. Georgia Wareham jams it towards point region and calls for a quick single. The fielder was rapid enough to have a shy towards the non-striker's end but Meghna Singh fumbles to collect it and allows Georgia Wareham to reach home.

Full outside off. Georgia Wareham swipes it towards deep mid-wicket and gets a couple of runs.

Simran Bahadur comes out to the middle now.