GGW vs RCBW: In the opener match of WPL 2025, RCBW grabs a historic win by chasing 202 runs against GGW with 9 balls to spare by 6 wickets. Hard hitters – Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh, and Kanika Ahuja pave the way for RCBW and make history by achieving such a gigantic target.
Gujarat Giants Pencil sets a mammoth total
The game witnessed Gujarat Giants batting first after winning the toss, scoring a daunting 201 runs for 5 wickets. The pick of the players for Gujarat were their skipper Ashleigh Gardner and opener Beth Mooney. Gardner played a scintillating knock, not out on 79 runs off 37 balls. Her innings were peppered with three boundaries and a whopping eight sixes.
Mooney also chipped in well with the overall score, scoring 56 runs from 42 balls, including eight fours. The duo steadied the innings after initial losses, contributing a valuable 44-run third-wicket partnership. Even though Laura Wolvaardt and D Hemalatha got out early, Gardner and Mooney’s fightback assisted Gujarat in staging a comeback. Mooney got out eventually at the hands of leg spinner Prema Rawat, with Smriti Mandhana taking the catch.
RCB’s Daring Pursuit: Richa Ghosh’s Heroic Knock
RCB’s pursuit was quite sensational. The side, with captain Smriti Mandhana at the helm, suffered an initial setback when both she and her opening partner Danny Wyatt Hodge were sent back cheaply—Mandhana for a mere 9 runs and Hodge for 4. But the middle order, dominated by the prolific in-form player Ellyse Perry, stabilized the boat soon enough.
Perry, in company with Raghavi Bisht, shared a strong stand, putting on 86 runs for the third wicket. Perry was superb, scoring 57 runs from 34 balls, with 6 fours and 2 sixes. Raghavi added 25 runs, ensuring the chase stayed on course. Richa Ghosh, though, turned the game in favor of RCB.
Ghosh’s 64-run unbeaten 27-ball score was the clincher. Her innings was of the explosive sort, with 7 boundaries and 4 powerful sixes. Perry and Ghosh’s combination was the deciding factor, and RCB continued to chase the target. RCB reached the target with 9 balls left, thanks to Kanika Ahuja’s blistering 30 off 13 balls, with a historic victory in the bargain.
RCB’s Record Win
RCB’s win in this game wasn’t a victory—it was a declaration. Chasing 202 runs in 18.3 overs, they became the first team in WPL history to chase down such a challenging target. The team’s success in chasing down such a high score under pressure, with significant inputs from their top-order and finishers, made it one of the most iconic moments in WPL history.
Gujarat Giants’ Fighting Spirit
Gujarat Giants still showed a lot of fighting spirit even though they lost the game. The team got a big score on the board, courtesy of Gardner and Mooney’s brilliance. Their determination in playing despite early losses was admirable, but in the end, RCB’s free-flowing chase was too much to tackle.
This electrifying clash between RCB and Gujarat Giants not only redefined the standard in the Women’s Premier League but also brought out the unparalleled ability in women’s cricket. With performances such as Richa Ghosh’s match-winning innings and the aggressive batting by Gardner and Mooney, the 2025 season can expect to be brimming with more such spectacular moments and record-breaking achievements.
