WPL 2025 GG vs RCB match report: Richa Ghosh's devastating inning helps RCB with highest successful chase in WPL history

A smashing unbeaten 64 from just 27 balls from Richa Ghosh and fifty from Ellyse Perry helped RCB break the record for the highest successful chase in WPL history in the opening game of WPL 2025 between Gujarat Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Ashleigh Gardner's unbeaten 79 from 37 balls helped Gujarat Giants reach their highest-ever score of 201 in the first innings. In reply, RCB chased down the target with 9 balls to go and six wickets in hands after Richa Ghosh played one of the most devastating knocks of the tournament's history.

Gardner and Mooney show in the first inning

Smriti Mandhana won the toss and decided to feel first as the new season of the Women’s Premier League was introduced in Vadodara. Giants had a steady powerplay of 39 runs while losing only one wicket of Laura Wolvaardt (6). Laura was dismissed by Renuka Singh in the fifth over while Dayalan Hemalatha (4) was sent back to the pavilion by Kanika Ahuja in the seventh over. 

Then, it was the partnership between Captain Ashleigh Gardner and opener Beth Mooney that gave Gujarat the momentum they were looking for. Though Mooney was dismissed by Prema Rawat in the 12th over after a solid 56 from 42 balls, Gardner continued smashing the ball for fun.

Gardner along with West Indian all-rounder Deandra Dottin put up a 67-run partnership for the fourth wicket to take Gujarat Giants close to 150 with nearly four overs to go in the innings. 

The Aussie all-rounder then added 49 in the last three overs including a 20-run overs against VJ Joshitha and Georgia Wareham. Gardner remained unbeaten on 79 from 37 balls, which included 3 boundaries and 8 massive sixes. 

This was the highest score by any Gujarat Giants batter in WPL history as they scored their highest score of 201/5 in the tournament so far. Except for Renuka Singh’s 25/2, every RCB bowler was sent out of the park in the first inning. 

𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐏𝐋 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 🔥

Fifties from Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney helped Gujarat Giants put their highest score of 201 in WPL history!

The defending champions RCB will now have to chase 202 to win!#WPL2025 | #GGvsRCB | #WomensPremierLeague pic.twitter.com/OEZO9PziA6

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) February 14, 2025

RCB's shaky start to the chase

While chasing a big total of 202, RCB lost two early wickets, both to Ashleigh Gardner. The off-spinner first trapped Smriti Mandhana in front of the wicket on 9 and then clean bowler Danni Wyatt-Hodge on 4. 

But a great day for Aussies continued in the opening game of WPL 2025 as Ellyse Perry struck a solid partnership with Raghvi Bist to keep RCB in the chase. 

Missed chances and Perry's fifty

Perry started hitting the ball out of the middle of the bat from the start and found gaps easily. The scene would have been different for RCB if Perry had not been dropped on 20 from 14 balls by Harleen Deol at long-on in the 8th over. 

If the missed catch was not good enough to break the hearts of Giants’ fans, Beth Mooney missed a stumping of Perry four balls later. 

Perry took advantage of the missed chances by GG fielders and reached her fifty in just 27 balls. Post her fifty, Perry lost her partner Raghvi Bist (25) while going for a big shot. But, luckily for RCB, incoming batter Richa Ghosh was dropped on duck by Simran Shaikh off Priya Mishra in the 12th over of the second inning. 

Richa Ghosh with WPL's most devastating inning

Perry (57) was dismissed in the 13th over by Sayali Satghare but Richa Ghosh and Kanika Ahuja took the game away from Gujarat Giants with some massive hits. A few miss fielding from Gujarat Giants' fielders helped RCB as well. 

Richa Ghosh completed her fifty in just 23 balls and took the game by storm. Gaints' bowlers could not just find any answer to the power-hitting of the wicket-keeper batter. Kanika Ahuja also supported her with a quick-fire unbeaten 30 from 13 balls. 

Ghosh remained undefeated on 64 from 27 balls including 7 boundaries and 4 sixes as she finished the game with a six. Eventually, RCB won the game with six wickets in hand and 9 balls to go. 

GG vs RCB Score Summary

𝐎𝐇 𝐌𝐘 𝐆(𝐇)𝐎𝐒𝐇! 🔥

Richa Ghosh's unbeaten 64 from 27 balls helps RCB with the highest successful chase in WPL history! ✅

They have chased Gujarat Giants' 202-run target with 9 balls to go!

Fire-Power from Richa 🔥#RichaGhosh #WPL2025 #rcbvgg #GGvsRCB #RCB pic.twitter.com/VTbHkTTr6J

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) February 14, 2025