Key Points
Dottin and Tanuja claim two wickets each
RCB collapse to 26/3 in powerplay
Kanika Ahuja top scores with 33 runs
Dottin claimed 2-31 while Tanuja was the best on display as she bagged 2-16 in her four overs as Gujarat Giants made the most of the conditions after winning the toss and electing to bowl first. Kashvee Gautam bagged 1-17 in her four overs as skipper Ashleigh Gardner used seven bowlers in all.
RCB, looking for their first win after two defeats, got off to a poor start as they slumped to 26/3 in the power-play. Danni Wyatt-Hodge was the first to go, trapped LBW by Deandra Dottin off the fifth ball of the innings after she started with a four. Danni used the DRS but could not get the decision overturned.
The dangerous Ellyse Perry got out for a zero for the first time in WPL, mistiming a pull off a short delivery from Ash Gardner to Tanuja Kanwar at square leg. Skipper Smriti Mandhana fell to Tanjua, caught by Harleen Deol at deep mid-wicket as she went down on one knee to end the dot-ball pressure. Mandhana struck a four in her 20-ball 10.
The RCB innings, which was tottering at 25/3, was revived a bit by Kanika Ahuja and Raghvi Bist as they raised 48 runs for the fourth wicket.
A nice piece of pick-up-and-throw by Fulmani after Gardner had dropped an easy catch at cover broke the partnership as Raghvi (22) was caught short as they tried to steal a run.
Kanika blasted a couple of big sixes in scoring 33 off 28 balls. She hammered Priya Mishra for a four and the first six of the match off successive balls in an 18-run eighth over.
Richa Ghosh (9) and Kim Garth (14) were out cheaply but Georgia Wareham scored an unbeaten 20 to help RCB reach a modest total.
Brief scores: Royal Challengers Bengaluru 125/7 in 20 overs (Kanika Ahuja 33, Raghvi Bist 22; Deandra Dottin 2-31, Tanuja Kanwar 2-16, Kashvee Gautam 1-17) against Gujarat Giants.
