A sensational knock from uncapped Indian batter Gautami Naik guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a competitive 178/6 against Gujarat Giants (GG) in their Women’s Premier League (WPL) clash at Vadodara on Monday. RCB will now look to defend 179 runs as they chase a fifth consecutive victory this season.
After winning the toss, Gujarat Giants opted to bowl and made early inroads. Renuka Singh’s sharp inswinger accounted for Grace Harris for just one run, while Georgia Voll also fell cheaply to Kashvee Gautam, leaving RCB struggling at 9/2 inside two overs.
Captain Smriti Mandhana and Gautami Naik then steadied the innings. Mandhana broke the shackles with a couple of boundaries off Ash Gardner, helping RCB reach 37/2 at the end of the powerplay. Naik soon took charge, attacking bowlers like Renuka, Happy Kumari and Sophie Devine, and brought up a brisk half-century.
The partnership was broken in a classic “captain gets captain” moment when Gardner trapped Mandhana lbw for 26 off 23 balls. RCB were 69/3 in 9.3 overs, ending a solid 60-run stand.
Naik continued to dominate alongside Richa Ghosh, punishing Georgia Wareham with a six and a four. Naik completed her maiden WPL fifty in 42 balls, underlining the rise of uncapped Indian talent, as RCB crossed 100 runs in the 14th over.
Richa then accelerated, smashing two sixes off Tanuja Kanwer, and the duo added another quick half-century stand. However, Richa’s fighting 27 off 20 balls came to an end when she was caught at long-on, giving Devine her wicket. Shortly after, Gardner dismissed Naik for a superb 73 off 55 balls, an innings studded with seven fours and a six.
Late fireworks came from Radha Yadav, who smashed 17 off eight balls, while Shreyanka Patil finished strongly with two boundaries off the final two deliveries. RCB closed their innings at 178/6, with Patil unbeaten on 8 and Nadine de Klerk on 4.
With a strong total on the board, RCB will back their bowlers to defend 179 runs and maintain their perfect winning streak.
