The Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women have defeated the Gujarat Giants in a convincing fashion, by 61 runs, registering their fifth win in a row in the Women’s Premier League 2026.
Tonight’s game was Match 12 of WPL 2026, played at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium, aka Kotambi Stadium, in Vadodara. While we have moved to a new destination in this competition, winning the toss and deciding to bowl here seems to be the popular choice here as well, which is exactly what the Giants did.
RCB-W Thrash GG-W By 61 Runs in WPL 2026 Match 12
The Royal Challengers got off to a poor start to their inning. In the first two overs, the side lost two wickets, and Grace Harris and Georgia Voll were dismissed for one run each.
The pair of Gautami Naik and team captain Smriti Mandhana took RCB-W out of the powerplay with their cautious approach. This can be understood by the fact that by the time Mandhana was dismissed by Ashleigh Gardner for 26 off 23 in the 10th over, the team score was 69/3.
By the 10th over mark, Bengaluru’s score was 73/3, and the side was in serious need of picking up the run rate. This task was taken up by Gautami Naik, who, in the 12th over, hit a four and a six. She reached her half-century in the 14th over amidst an onslaught of boundaries.
At this time, wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh played a supporting role from the other end. She got out at the end of the 17th over for 27 off 20. But the highlight of this inning was Naik, who was dismissed soon after by Gardner for 73 off 55.
A late-inning slog by Radha Yadav (17 off 8) and Shreyanka Patil (8 off 2) took the Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women to a solid score of 178/6 at the end of their allotted 20 overs.
With a massive target to chase, the Gujarat Giants’ inning stumbled from the first step. In the second over, wicketkeeper/batter Beth Mooney got out for three runs, dismissed by Sayali Satghare. Later in that over, Sophie Devine, the other opener, departed for a duck.
In the very next over, batter Kanika Ahuja was dismissed for zero, leaving GG-W reeling at 5/3 in three overs. From here, the pair of batters, Anushka Sharma and captain Ashleigh Gardner, took the Giants past the powerplay overs at a sluggish pace.
Right after the powerplay, Sharma got out for 18 off 20 balls by Nadine de Klerk. Gujarat failed to form any big partnerships. In the 11th over, Kashvee Gautam was bowled by Radha Yadav for four off eight. While Georgia Wareham departed in the 13th for 2 off 6.
At 56/6, victory was out of grasp for the Gujarat Giants. All this team could focus on is reducing the margin of loss. Skipper Gardner, standing firm at one point, went on to score a fighting 54 off 43 before her dismissal in the 17th.
While the Giants’ tale was never going to chase this target down, they stood firm and did not get all out in the death overs. At the end of their allotted 20 overs, GG-W ended their innings at 117/8 as RCB-W won the match by 61 runs.
For her stellar match-winning inning, Gautami Naik was named the Player of the Match.
This was the Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women’s fifth win in as many matches this season so far. With five wins, 10 points, and the best net run rate in the league, the Bengaluru-based franchise sits at the top of the league table.
On the other hand, the Giants are struggling this season with two wins, three losses, and four points in five matches, with a terrible net run rate. Gujarat are fourth on the points table.
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