Royal Challengers Bangalore Vs Gujarat Giants, WPL 2024: RCB Beat GGT By 8 Wickets On Home Venue - As It Happened

The stage is set for the fifth match of the Women's Premier League 2024 between the hosts Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Giants at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The Smriti Mandhana-led RCB won the first match at their home venue on the very last delivery of the encounter a few days back.

On the other hand, Gujarat Giants have lost their inaugural match of the season and now they have to pass the test or RCB and their 12th player (RCB fans). The support and noise in the last RCB match at Chinnaswamy Stadium was unmatchable. The same is expected on Tuesday. Mooney's team have a long list of stars including India's Veda Krishnamurthy, Harleen Deol, Meghana Singh and last year's skipper Sneh Rana. Ashleigh Gardener, Phoebe Litchfield and Kathryn Bryce fulfil the foreign quota. Laura Wolvaardt's inclusion in the playing XI is subject to her fitness. Stay tuned for the live scores and updates of all the action from the RCB Women vs GG Women, WPL 2024 match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. (Streaming | Full Coverage | Schedule And Points Table)

Gujarat Giants Squad: Beth Mooney(w/c), Veda Krishnamurthy, Harleen Deol, Phoebe Litchfield, Dayalan Hemalatha, Ashleigh Gardner, Kathryn Bryce, Sneh Rana, Tanuja Kanwar, Lea Tahuhu, Meghna Singh, Laura Wolvaardt, Tarannum Pathan, Mannat Kashyap, Shabnam Md Shakil, Sayali Satghare, Priya Mishra, Trisha Poojitha

Royal Challengers Bangalore Women Squad: Sophie Devine, Smriti Mandhana(c), Sabbhineni Meghana, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh(w), Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux, Shreyanka Patil, Simran Bahadur, Asha Sobhana, Renuka Thakur Singh, Indrani Roy, Shubha Satheesh, Shraddha Pokharkar, Disha Kasat, Nadine de Klerk, Kate Cross, Ekta Bisht

Royal Challengers Bangalore Women have won the toss and have opted to field

Teams:

Gujarat Giants (Playing XI): Beth Mooney(w/c), Veda Krishnamurthy, Harleen Deol, Phoebe Litchfield, Dayalan Hemalatha, Ashleigh Gardner, Kathryn Bryce, Sneh Rana, Tanuja Kanwar, Lea Tahuhu, Meghna Singh

Royal Challengers Bangalore Women (Playing XI): Sophie Devine, Smriti Mandhana(c), Sabbhineni Meghana, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh(w), Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux, Shreyanka Patil, Simran Bahadur, Asha Sobhana, Renuka Thakur Singh

The same pitch as yesterday. 48m and 61m square boundaries with 63m down the earth. Expect some runs on this surface. It has been rolled quite nicely, and the pitch appears to be firm. 155-160 will be a competitive score.

Beth Mooney and Harleen Deol opened the batting for Gujarat Giants and Renuka Thakur Singh started the bowling in the first over. She conceded five runs in the first over including a boundary.

GGT - 5/0 (1)

Renuka Singh gave RCB their first breakthrough, and it was superbly bowled! Mooney's feet didn't move very well as she pushed at this, leaving a large gap between the bat pad and swinging directly into it, beating the inside edge and uprooting off-stump. RCB appear overjoyed with that.

GGT - 12/1 (3)

It was a good length delivery just outside off, just nipped away a touch to beat the outside edge, and Phoebe Litchfield had strayed a long way outside her crease as she pressed forward and moved into a drive, Richa Ghosh just took a moment before realising she had a chance of a stumping because she was initially going up for caught behind, a real close one, and after reviewing multiple replays and angles, the third umpire returned with a decision that much pleased RCB. Litchfield's foot was on the line, with nothing to back it up, and GGT found themselves in trouble early on.

GGT - 32/2 (7)

Sophie Molineux was called to bowl the 11th over and she dismissed the set batter Veda Krishnamurthy on the second delivery. On the last delivery of the over, Harleen Deol got run out.

GGT - 50/4 (11)

Ashleigh Gardner has left without inflicting too much damage. Gardner skipped down the track and attempted to slug this across the line, but it got the leading edge because she closed the face of the bat too soon and went straight up in the air. The captain took a few steps back at mid-off and settled beneath it before making a wonderful catch.

GGT - 73/5 (16)

Molineux ends with three in her spell! Flatter delivery in the centre, just slips on with the arm, and Sneh Rana had decided to come down the track; she swiped straight over the line, passing the inner edge and leg-stump as it passed through. Richa Ghosh delivered an excellent take since she was caught off guard. It was a simple stumping when she got hold of it, but Sneh Rana was miles down the track.

GGT - 98/7 (19)

Dayalan Hemalatha's 31 runs in 25 balls secured a respectable total for Gujarat Giants. In the last over Georgia Wareham conceded nine runs. Now, RCB need 108 runs to win the match.

GGT - 107/7 (20)

Brief Score: GGT - 107/7 (20)

Dayalan Hemalatha - 31 (25), Harleen Deol - 22 (31) | Sophie Molineux: (4-0-25-3)

Lea Tahuhu came to bowl the first over and Smriti Mandhana, who is accompanying Sophie Devine, smashed three fours in the first over. RCB are off to a flying start.

RCB - 13/0 (1)

Devine goes to a half-tracker that was supposed to be pushed into the stands, but she finds a backward square leg; Meghna steps up to receive it. Devine goes off, shaking her head and smiling wryly.

RCB - 37/1 (4)

Sabbhineni Meghana and Smriti Mandhana are looking in a hurry to reach the target. Meghana started Rana's over with back to back boundaries and Mandhana ended the over with another boundary.

RCB - 69/1 (8)

Sabbhineni Meghana played a lofted shot for six on the second delivery of Tanuja Kanwar's second over. She smashed a four as well to reduce the required runs. RCB need 11 more runs to win the match.

RCB - 97/2 (11)

Ellyse Perry smashed a four off Sneh Rana in the 13th over to make them win the match by 8 wickets with 45 balls remaining.

RCB - 110/2 (12.3)

Defending low totals on these wickets is often difficult for the RCB batting lineup. It'll be necessary to start over. I do not believe in form in this format; if we start scoring runs in the next two games, everyone will forget about the previous two. Perhaps we are simply not picking the high percentage selections at the appropriate moment. We have to score in the middle overs, and we need wickets to do so. We need to go to 140. [On Veda at 4] We assumed RCB had a couple of spinners in the centre, which would free her up, but it didn't work. If I don't get started, I may fall further down the list. T20 is a volatile game in which things may change rapidly, so I must wait for that. There isn't anything wrong with our batting and bowling; we're just getting some nice results. The girls in the group were chosen for a purpose, and they must trust in their abilities. We can't keep swapping players year after year and expect to set the globe on fire. We need to remain with the guys and get them to perform as individuals and as a team.

I used my confidence from the previous game to exploit the powerplay, which worked great for me. After Smriti was released, I wanted to rotate strike and give Perry more strike. I received a message to relax and, if there is a ball to hit, go for it; otherwise, rotate the strike. Smriti and the rest of the crew have been really supportive. They have urged me to rely on my strengths. Has enabled me to play my natural game. Definitely, sure. I'm a little more relaxed at 3. I was looking at Smriti because there was so much noise that we couldn't hear; I was looking to her for assistance on the pitch.

I'm overjoyed; it's been a long time since I bowled well, particularly after my injury. One of my better spells. It feels fantastic since I've worked so hard and I'm glad the results are showing. [about her round-the-wicket tactic] I've worked a lot on this; after the India series, I met with my coach Troy [Cooley], who asked me to focus on it.