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Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has kicked off their Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 season with a spectacular performance, clinching consecutive victories in their first two matches. The team's latest triumph came against the Gujarat Giants, led by Beth Mooney, with RCB securing an impressive 8-wicket win on Tuesday, February 27, at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
This victory propelled RCB to the summit of the WPL points table, surpassing the defending champions, Mumbai Indians, who have similarly won their opening two fixtures.
RCB elects to bowl first
Choosing to bowl first, RCB showcased their bowling prowess by limiting the Gujarat Giants to a modest total of 107/7 in their allotted overs. The Giants struggled to build momentum, particularly in the powerplay, where they managed only 29 runs. Despite a brief surge in scoring, the Giants found it challenging to accelerate, largely due to the strategic bowling by RCB.
Renuka Singh was instrumental in dismantling the Giants' top order, claiming the crucial wickets of Beth Mooney and the promising Phoebe Litchfield.
The middle overs saw tight bowling from Sophie Molineux and Georgia Wareham, who kept the pressure on the Giants. Wareham's dismissal of Ash Gardner and Molineux's economical spell of 3 wickets for 25 runs in 4 overs were highlights of RCB's disciplined bowling effort. Dayalan Hemalatha’s valiant 31 not out off 25 balls was the lone bright spot for the Giants.
Smriti Mandhana leads RCB's run chase with the bat
RCB's chase was characterised by aggression and efficiency, reaching their target with 45 balls to spare. The team demonstrated formidable batting, particularly in the powerplay, where they amassed 47 runs. Although Sophie Devine fell early, Smriti Mandhana took charge with a quickfire 43 runs off 27 balls, featuring 8 fours and a six.
Following Mandhana's dismissal, Sabbhineni Meghana continued the momentum with an unbeaten 36 off 28 balls, marking her 2000th run in T20 cricket. Ellyse Perry also contributed significantly with a brisk 23 not out off 14 balls.
With two wins out of two and a net run rate of +1.665, RCB has firmly established themselves as a strong contender for the WPL 2024 title.
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