Hey there, cricket lovers! Imagine this: the roar of the crowd at a sun-kissed stadium, the crack of leather on willow echoing through the air, and two powerhouse teams battling it out in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). That’s exactly what went down when the Gujarat Giants (Wpl) vs Royal Challengers Cricket Match Scorecard on February 14, 2025, in Vadodara. If you’re new to women’s cricket or just love a good underdog story, stick around. I’m going to break it all down for you in simple words – no jargon overload, promise. We’ll chat about the teams, the drama on the field, the full scorecard in a neat table, and why this match will be remembered for years. Grab your popcorn; this one’s a thriller.
Women’s cricket has exploded in popularity, hasn’t it? The WPL, now in its second season, is like the IPL’s vibrant sister – fast-paced T20 action with fierce competition and star players from around the globe. This opener wasn’t just any game; it set the tone for the entire tournament. Gujarat Giants, captained by the all-round wizard Ashleigh Gardner, were looking to shake off last season’s disappointments. They finished at the bottom in 2024, but with fresh talent and fire in their bellies, they meant business. On the flip side, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), led by the elegant Smriti Mandhana, entered as favorites. RCB had reached the final last year but fell short – this time, they wanted to go all the way.
The venue? Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, Gujarat’s home turf. It’s a batter’s paradise with short boundaries and true bounce, perfect for high-scoring T20s. The date was February 14 – Valentine’s Day! Fitting for a match full of love for the game, right? Dew was expected later, so the toss became crucial. RCB won it and chose to bowl first, banking on their strong pace attack to exploit early moisture. Little did they know, this decision would spark one of the biggest chases in WPL history.
The Toss and Team Line-Ups: Setting the Stage
Toss time always feels like the first plot twist in a cricket story. Smriti Mandhana called heads, it landed tails, and RCB opted to field. “Dew is a big factor,” Mandhana said post-toss, her voice steady over the mic. “We’d like to bowl first and chase under lights.” Smart move, or so it seemed.
Gujarat Giants’ playing XI was a mix of experience and youth:
- Beth Mooney (wk) – Australia’s opener, known for her gritty starts.
- Laura Wolvaardt – South Africa’s elegant right-hander.
- Harleen Deol – India’s rising star, full of flair.
- Deandra Dottin – The explosive West Indian all-rounder.
- Dayalan Hemalatha – A steady middle-order hand.
- Ashleigh Gardner (c) – Australia’s off-spin queen and handy batter.
- Simran Shaikh – Young Indian talent with promise.
- Meghna Singh – Pace bowler who swings it early.
- Sayali Satghare – Left-arm spinner for variety.
- Tanuja Kanwar – Another slow bowling option.
- Priya Mishra – Leg-spinner to trouble the middle order.
Bench strength included Phoebe Litchfield, Kashvee Gautam, and more, showing depth.
RCB countered with firepower:
- Smriti Mandhana (c) – India’s left-handed opener, a boundary machine.
- Danielle Wyatt-Hodge – England’s aggressive opener.
- Ellyse Perry – Australia’s all-time great, batting and bowling beast.
- Sabbhineni Meghana – Solid Indian middle-order.
- Raghvi Bist – Promising youngster.
- Richa Ghosh (wk) – Explosive keeper-batter from Bengal.
- Georgia Wareham – Australia’s leg-spin wizard.
- Kanika Ahuja – All-rounder with seam and bat.
- Kim Garth – Ireland’s pace ace.
- Prema Rawat – Indian pacer.
- Renuka Thakur Singh – Swing specialist.
Overseas stars like Perry and Wyatt added that international edge. Both teams looked balanced, but Gujarat’s batting depth raised eyebrows. As the anthems played and the sun dipped, the stage was set for 40 overs of non-stop action.
Gujarat Giants’ Innings: Building a Mountain
First up, Gujarat Giants to bat. Beth Mooney and Laura Wolvaardt walked out to a smattering of cheers – home advantage, after all. RCB’s bowlers, led by Renuka Thakur Singh, charged in. The first over was tight: just 4 runs, with Renuka’s swing beating the outside edge twice. But Mooney, ever the pro, settled in quickly. By the end of the powerplay (first 6 overs), Gujarat were 48/0 – Mooney on 25, Wolvaardt on 18. Boundaries flowed like water; the pitch was flat as a pancake.
Enter Ellyse Perry in the 7th over. Boom! She yorked Wolvaardt for 26, and Gujarat lost their first wicket at 55/1. Harleen Deol joined Mooney, and what followed was pure entertainment. Deol, with her cover drives, and Mooney, flicking through mid-wicket, raced to 100/1 by the 10th over. RCB’s spinners, Georgia Wareham and Sophie Molineux (wait, Molineux was on bench, but Wareham stepped up), tried to stem the flow, but the duo was relentless.
Midway through, at 120/1 after 13 overs, the strategic timeout came. RCB huddled – they needed breakthroughs. Kim Garth delivered, castling Mooney for a classy 52 off 38 balls. That brought Deandra Dottin to the crease, and oh boy, did she ignite! Dottin smashed 3 fours in one over off Prema Rawat, pushing the score to 150/2. But RCB fought back: Wyatt-Hodge, bowling medium pace, got Deol LBW for 45 – reviewed, but upheld. Gujarat slipped to 160/3 in the 17th over.
Now, the finishers: Ashleigh Gardner and Dayalan Hemalatha. Gardner, the skipper, played like a woman possessed. She lofted Wareham for two sixes over long-on, and Hemalatha chipped in with quick singles. The 18th over from Renuka went for 15 runs, including a massive six from Gardner. In the end, Gujarat posted a mammoth 201/5 in 20 overs. Gardner unbeaten on 79 off 42 (8 fours, 4 sixes) – her highest in T20s! Hemalatha added 22 off 12. Extras: 12 wides and no-balls hurt RCB.
Bowling figures for RCB? Renuka 0/32 in 4, Perry 1/35 in 4, Garth 1/38 in 4, Wareham 1/40 in 4. They leaked runs, but Perry’s one wicket was gold. Gujarat had set a target of 202 – the highest in WPL history at that point. Fans whispered, “Chasing this? On this pitch? Good luck, RCB.”
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Chase: A Chase for the Ages
Chasing 202? That’s like climbing Everest in flip-flops. But RCB’s openers, Smriti Mandhana and Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, started like a house on fire. Mandhana, fresh off a half-century in practice, flicked Renuka for four off the first ball. By the end of powerplay, RCB were 52/0 – Mandhana 28, Wyatt 20. Gujarat’s bowlers looked rattled; Meghna Singh’s first over went for 12.
Then, drama! In the 7th over, Tanuja Kanwar trapped Mandhana LBW for 35. Reviewed? Struck down – out! RCB 65/1. Ellyse Perry strode in, calm as ever. She and Wyatt added 40 quick runs, but Wyatt fell to Gardner’s off-spin for 32, caught at deep mid-wicket. 105/2 after 10 overs. Pressure mounting.
Sabbhineni Meghana joined Perry, and they steadied the ship. Meghana’s elegant drives pushed the score to 130/2 by 13 overs. But Gujarat struck: Priya Mishra’s leg-spin bamboozled Meghana for 22. 140/3. Now, the finishers: Richa Ghosh and Ellyse Perry. This is where legends are made.
Richa, the young gun from Bengal, unleashed hell. She smashed Gardner for two sixes in the 15th over – one over square leg, the other straight as an arrow. Perry, not to be outdone, lofted Meghna for a four that kissed the boundary rope. By 16 overs, RCB needed 50 off 24 balls. The crowd was deafening; phone cameras lit up the stands like stars.
Strategic timeout at 160/3. Gujarat captain Gardner urged her bowlers: “Tight lines, girls!” But Richa and Perry had other plans. In the 17th over, Sayali Satghare bowled a full toss – dispatched for six by Perry. 180/3 after 17. Needing 22 off 18, it felt like RCB’s game.
The 18th over from Meghna: Dot, single, four, two, six! Richa Ghosh reached her fifty with that six. Perry followed with a lofted cover drive for four. 18 runs off it! RCB at 198/3. Two runs needed off the last two overs. Tanuja Kanwar in the 19th: Perry on strike. She flicked a full ball for two – boundary? No, they ran hard. Wait, it’s a single? No – two runs! RCB won with 6 wickets in hand and 9 balls to spare.
Final score: RCB 202/4 in 18.3 overs. Ellyse Perry 57 off 34 (7 fours, 2 sixes), Richa Ghosh 64* off 27 (5 fours, 5 sixes) – an unbroken 93-run stand off 37 balls at 15+ run rate! That’s blistering. Earlier, Mandhana 35, Wyatt 32, Meghana 22.
Gujarat’s bowling: Gardner 1/40 in 4 (but her batting was the story), Meghna 0/42 in 4, Tanuja 1/35 in 4, Priya 1/30 in 3. They tried, but the pressure of defending 200 on a belter proved too much.
The Full Gujarat Giants (Wpl) vs Royal Challengers Cricket Match Scorecard: At a Glance
To make it super easy, here’s the complete scorecard in a table. I’ve kept it simple – batting first, then bowling, with key stats highlighted. Whether you’re 10 or 100, this’ll make sense!
Batting Scorecard
| Batsman | Team | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beth Mooney (wk) | GG | b Garth | 52 | 38 | 6 | 1 | 136.84 |
| Laura Wolvaardt | GG | b Perry | 26 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 130.00 |
| Harleen Deol | GG | lbw b Wyatt-Hodge | 45 | 32 | 5 | 1 | 140.62 |
| Deandra Dottin | GG | c Ghosh b Wareham | 18 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 180.00 |
| Dayalan Hemalatha | GG | not out | 22 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 183.33 |
| Ashleigh Gardner (c) | GG | not out | 79 | 42 | 8 | 4 | 188.09 |
| Extras | (lb 4, w 8, nb 2) | 12 | |||||
| Total (5 wkts, 20 ov) | GG | 201 | 10.05 rpo |
Fall of Wickets: 55-1 (Wolvaardt, 6.4 ov), 120-2 (Mooney, 13.2 ov), 140-3 (Dottin, 15.1 ov), 160-4 (Deol, 16.5 ov)
Bowling Scorecard (Gujarat Giants Innings)
| Bowler | Team | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Wides | No-Balls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renuka Thakur Singh | RCB | 4 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 8.00 | 2 | 0 |
| Prema Rawat | RCB | 3 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 9.33 | 1 | 1 |
| Kim Garth | RCB | 4 | 0 | 38 | 1 | 9.50 | 3 | 0 |
| Ellyse Perry | RCB | 4 | 0 | 35 | 1 | 8.75 | 0 | 0 |
| Georgia Wareham | RCB | 4 | 0 | 40 | 1 | 10.00 | 1 | 1 |
| Kanika Ahuja | RCB | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 15.00 | 1 | 0 |
Batting Scorecard (RCB Chase)
| Batsman | Team | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana (c) | RCB | lbw b Kanwar | 35 | 22 | 5 | 1 | 159.09 |
| Danielle Wyatt-Hodge | RCB | c Hemalatha b Gardner | 32 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 177.77 |
| Ellyse Perry | RCB | not out | 57 | 34 | 7 | 2 | 167.64 |
| Sabbhineni Meghana | RCB | b Mishra | 22 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 137.50 |
| Richa Ghosh (wk) | RCB | not out | 64* | 27 | 5 | 5 | 237.03 |
| Extras | (lb 2, w 6, nb 1) | 9 | |||||
| Total (4 wkts, 18.3 ov) | RCB | 202 | 11.00 rpo |
Fall of Wickets: 65-1 (Mandhana, 6.5 ov), 105-2 (Wyatt-Hodge, 9.2 ov), 140-3 (Meghana, 13.4 ov)
Bowling Scorecard (RCB Innings)
| Bowler | Team | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Wides | No-Balls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meghna Singh | GG | 3.3 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 12.00 | 2 | 0 |
| Tanuja Kanwar | GG | 4 | 0 | 35 | 1 | 8.75 | 1 | 1 |
| Sayali Satghare | GG | 3 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 12.66 | 2 | 0 |
| Priya Mishra | GG | 3 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 10.00 | 0 | 0 |
| Ashleigh Gardner | GG | 4 | 0 | 40 | 1 | 10.00 | 1 | 0 |
| Deandra Dottin | GG | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 12.00 | 0 | 0 |
Key Moments That Defined the Game
Cricket’s magic is in the moments, right? Let’s rewind the tape on a few that had everyone gasping.
- Gardner’s Masterclass (15.1-20 overs): At 140/3, the match could’ve slipped. But Gardner’s 79* turned it into a 200-plus total. Her six off Wareham in the 16th over – pure timing, sailing 80 meters. That shot alone boosted Gujarat’s confidence.
- Mandhana’s Early Fireworks: 35 off 22, including a straight six off Kanwar. But that LBW in the 7th over shifted momentum. Reviewed for 30 seconds – heart in mouths!
- The Perry-Ghosh Storm (15-18.3 overs): Needing 62 off 36, they scored 62 off 37 balls. Ghosh’s 64* included five sixes – one pulled off Meghna that nearly hit the sightscreen. Perry’s 57 was elegance meets power. Their partnership? The highest for WPL at a 15.08 run rate.
- Dottin’s Cameo: Just 18 off 10, but those three fours in one over off Rawat kept Gujarat ticking. It was the spark in the middle overs.
- Fielding Fumbles: RCB dropped Mooney twice early on – costly at 20 runs each. Gujarat’s catch at deep mid-wicket to dismiss Wyatt was a stunner by Hemalatha.
Umpiring was spot-on too. Two DRS calls – Mandhana’s out upheld, Deol’s LBW confirmed. No controversies, just pure play.
Player Performances: Stars of the Show
- Ashleigh Gardner (GG): Player of the Match? Almost. 79* with the bat, plus 1/40. Her leadership shone – calm under pressure.
- Richa Ghosh (RCB): The breakout star! 64* off 27 – highest strike rate in a winning chase. At 21, she’s a future captain.
- Ellyse Perry (RCB): 57* and 1/35. The GOAT lives up to the hype, anchoring the chase.
- Beth Mooney (GG): 52 off 38 – solid start, but couldn’t convert to big.
Mandhana’s 35 was promising but short; Wyatt’s 32 aggressive. On the bowling front, no one took multiples, but Gardner and Mishra’s wickets were pivotal.
Post-Match Buzz: What They Said
Presentations under the floodlights were electric. “We thought 180 was par, but Gardner changed the game,” sighed Mandhana. “Chasing 202? Credit to Richa and Ellyse – they batted like it was 150.”
Gardner grinned: “Proud of the fightback. This total gives us belief.” Richa Ghosh, mic in hand: “Just backing my instincts. Perry di’s advice? ‘See ball, hit ball!'” Laughter rippled through the crowd.
Stats nerds went wild: Highest WPL aggregate (403 runs), biggest chase (202), and four 50+ scores in a match – a first!
Why This Match Matters: Legacy and Lessons
This wasn’t just a game; it was a statement. RCB’s win silenced doubters, proving their batting depth. For Gujarat, posting 201 was a morale booster – last season’s low totals haunted them, but not anymore. Women’s cricket thrives on such rivalries; it inspires young girls in Vadodara backyards to pick up bats.
