‘Naya saal, nayi performance’ – Fans react as Royal Challengers Bangalore thrash Gujarat Giants to top Women’s Premier League 2024 points table

In the fifth game of the ongoing Women’s Premier League 2024, Royal Challengers Bangalore played Gujarat Giants at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Ahead of the game, the home team RCB were coming off a last-ball win against UP Warriors. On the other hand, the Giants had a decent game despite losing to the defending champions, Mumbai Indians. Meanwhile, the Red Army won the toss and chose to bowl first.

With the bat, the Ahmedabad-based side kept struggling and never recovered from the regular wickets. In the powerplay, they managed only 29/1, losing the wicket of Beth Mooney, their skipper to Renuka Thakur. In the seventh over, with only 30 runs on the board, Phoebe Litchfield tried to improve the run rate but was stumped by Richa Ghosh off Singh. Harleen Deol kept struggling with the bat.

This put the pressure on Veda Krishnamurthy who was caught at deep midwicket off Sophie Molineux in the 11th over with only 45 runs on the board. Dayalan Hemlatha (31*) played a decent hand where others struggled. In the end, the Gujarat side managed with only 107/7 on the board. For the Royal Challengers, Molineux ended with three wickets while Renuka took two. On the other hand, Georgia Wareham took one.

Royal Challengers Bangalore improves their Net Run Rate and top the table

For the first time in the history of the tournament (it is only in its second year), the RCB has managed to top the table. In reply to the paltry total, the hosts came out firing with skipper Smriti Mandhana scoring 43 off just 27 balls including eight fours and a six. Sophie Devine opened the batting for the first time in the tournament and managed only six runs.

Despite this, the other batters (Sabbineni Meghana and Ellyse Perry) decided to carry on the momentum, given by Mandhana at the top. In the end, the team chased down the target with 7.3 overs left and eight wickets in hand.

This is how Twitter reacted