Daijiworld Media Network - Vadodara

Vadodara, Jan 20: Gautami Naik’s brilliant knock of 73, backed by a disciplined bowling effort, powered Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a comprehensive 61-run victory over Gujarat Giants, sealing their place in the playoffs of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 at the Kotambi Stadium here.

With the win, RCB maintained their perfect record in the tournament, registering five victories on the trot. They became only the second team after Mumbai Indians in 2023 to win their first five matches in a WPL season and also recorded their biggest-ever win by runs in the league.

Recovering from a shaky start of 9 for 2, RCB posted a competitive 178 for 6 after being put in to bat. Naik anchored the innings with a composed half-century, while Richa Ghosh and Radha Yadav provided valuable late contributions. In reply, Gujarat Giants could manage only 117 for 8, suffering their second consecutive defeat against RCB this season.

RCB’s innings began on a difficult note as Renuka Singh struck with the final ball of the opening over, dismissing Grace Harris, who chipped a simple catch to mid-on. Georgia Voll, coming off a fifty on debut in the previous match, was bowled soon after while attempting a cut shot.

Giants skipper Ashleigh Gardner brought herself into the attack to exploit a favourable match-up against Smriti Mandhana, but the RCB captain countered with a couple of crisp boundaries. At the other end, Naik took time to settle before opening her account with a confident drive, followed by a pick-up shot over deep square leg. Despite scoring at under a run-a-ball initially, the duo rebuilt steadily and raised a 50-run stand by the end of the eighth over.

Gardner returned in the ninth over to break the partnership, dismissing Mandhana for the fourth time in the WPL, trapping her lbw.

With Mandhana gone, Naik took charge of the innings, finding gaps regularly and rotating the strike well. She reached her half-century off 42 balls, becoming the first uncapped Indian player in WPL history to score a fifty. She also survived a dropped catch shortly after reaching the milestone.

Ghosh accelerated the scoring with three towering sixes during her 20-ball stay before being caught at long-on off a full toss. A review for a no-ball proved unsuccessful. Giants lost control in the middle overs, conceding 94 runs, and leaked another 40 runs in the final four overs. Poor fielding further hurt their cause as they conceded 21 extras — the joint second-highest by a team in WPL history.

Radha Yadav and Shreyanka Patil added late impetus, hammering four boundaries off Kshvee Gautam in the final over to push RCB to a strong total.

In the chase, Gujarat Giants never found their footing. While they survived a tight opening over from Lauren Bell, Sayali Satghare struck twice in the second over to remove both openers — Beth Mooney was bowled for 3, while Sophie Devine departed for a duck.

Bell then joined the act, producing a fine inswinger to rattle Kanika Ahuja’s stumps, reducing Giants to 5 for 3. Anushka Sharma, returning from injury, played a few attractive shots but failed to capitalise, slicing a Nadine de Klerk slower delivery to Radha Yadav. Giants soon slipped further to 56 for 6, effectively ending the contest.

Chasing an improbable 163 off the final six overs, Gardner showed some resistance, smashing three boundaries off Radha and launching Bell for a towering six to complete a fighting half-century. However, Satghare returned to dismiss the Giants skipper and end any hopes of a comeback, finishing with three wickets.

Gujarat Giants eventually limped to 117 for 8, as RCB sealed a dominant win and marched confidently into the WPL 2026 playoffs.