WPL 2025, RCB vs GG Highlights: RCB beat Gujarat Giants by 6 wickets after Richa Ghosh heroics

Right then, that is it from the curtain raiser clash of the 2025 Women's T20 League but this is just the beginning of another wonderful campaign. Next up, it is a clash between two prolific teams as Mumbai go up against Delhi at the very same in Vadodara. That game will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT) on Saturday, 15th February but you can join us a lot sooner for the build-up. Cheers!

Richa Ghosh is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for her sensational knock. She says that the plan was to take her time and take the game deep but play her own game as well. Adds that she and Kanika Ahuja knew they could neutralize the situation. Mentions that the preparations they did in the practice match helped them a lot. Adds that she didn't think about the dropped catch and looked to keep things simple.

Smriti Mandhana, the skipper of Bengaluru says that she is really happy that she is on the winning side. Appreciate the batting of Richa Ghosh as it was amazing to watch her finish the game. Adds that these middle-order batters are practising a lot in the nets to hit those sixes and today it has clicked on and they knew that the dew would come on later so they were always ahead in the game. Mentions that they lost a couple of early wickets but luckily they had a good auction as whoever had come in, they have contributed as per their capabilities. All were good replacements and they just want to have a good discussion around for the next game. Jokes about that there is a time to take Ash Garnder for runs now.

The Presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, Smriti Mandhana put Gujarat into bat first and after losing a couple of wickets, the Aussie duo of Beth Mooney and Ash Gardner started to fire for the home side. They both went on to score half-centuries and coupled with a cameo from Deandra Dottin, Gujarat breached the 200-run mark. Gardner remained unbeaten on 79 off just 37 deliveries and it was the likes of Renuka Singh Thakur and Kanika Ahuja who bowled economically for Bengaluru. In reply, Bengaluru huffed and puffed but it was all carnage in the death overs and they managed to get over the line.

One of the stars of the chase for Bengaluru, Kanika Ahuja is down for a chat now. Kanika says that she is very happy, especially after missing the last season. Adds that the visualizations and the rehab worked a lot and she tried to give it her best with the bat. Mentions that she tried to hit everything that was in her reach. Jokes that she didn't visualize about her wicket but she did enjoy it. Also says that they just wanted to take the game deep and applauds the knocks that Ellyse Perry and Richa Ghosh played.

Ash Gardner, the skipper of Gujarat is up for a quick chat. She says that it is pretty disheartening as they went at the halfway of the inning with a score of 200 and they had to really bowl to win it but unfortunately, they dropped too many chances and that did cost them this match. Adds that definitely, there are a lot of positives from this game but it is a bit disappointing of course to not win after even making such a huge score. Tells that there are a lot of good performances in the team in both batting and bowling as how Dotting came in and smoked those sixes. But all the credit goes to Richa as she capitalized on the bad balls and played a good knock under the pressure. Mentions that it was pretty difficult to bowl with the dew maybe, that hasn’t helped them in winning this but she doesn’t want to use this reason as an excuse for the loss. Says that it is okay to show emotions and they were in a good position to win the game. The debutants did good and she just hopes they play like they have played today.

Gujarat might still be in a bit of a shock as they have been hit by a whirlwind of a storm and the game has slipped right out of their grasp. Skipper Ash Gardner had a fantastic outing in the first innings and she carried that momentum after the break, knocking over the opening duo of Bengaluru and set things up for her side. However, they failed to pick up any more wickets in the Powerplay and dropped Ellyse Perry when she wasn't quite set. The fielding continued to be their Achilles heal as there were more dropped catches and misfields but the biggest drop was when Simran Shaikh dropped Richa Ghosh. They did have plenty of runs to play it after that as well but the bowlers were then taken to the cleaners and it all got over sooner rather than later.

It might be a new season but in the end, all that mattered was which side had a previous winning habit and that was Bengaluru! Chasing 202 big runs, skipper Smriti Mandhana fell in the 2nd over and so did Danni Wyatt-Hodge, leaving the reigning champions way behind the right ball. Then came the stand between Ellyse Perry and Raghvi Bist, which was probably very crucial. Perry hit her way through and after a dropped catch, went on to score a half-century before eventually falling. With a long way to go Bengaluru needed something special and once Richa Ghosh was dropped on naught, it all started to come through. Kanika Ahuja and Ghosh went into overdrive mode after the 14th over and from being 109/4 in 12.2 overs, they ended up winning the game with 9 balls to spare. Ghosh played an unbelievable knock but Ahuja played a massive role too with her unbeaten 30 off just 13 balls.

The response of champions, that's what that was from Bengaluru! They have stolen the game away from right under Gujarat's clutches and what a start we have had to the 2025 edition of the Women's T20 League! Absolute heartbreak for Gujarat though, who played their part but faltered at crucial times in the chase.

18.3: Deandra Dottin to Richa Ghosh, SIX! DONE! WHAT A PLAYER RICHA GHOSH IS! BENGALURU WIN IT BY 6 WICKETS WITH 9 BALLS TO SPARE! This is the highest successful run chase in the entire history of the Women's T20 League. Dottin bangs in short of a length, around off, Richa Ghosh waits for it and then launches it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. WHAT A MOMENT FOR GHOSH!

18.2: Deandra Dottin to Richa Ghosh, Pace off, slower length ball, around leg, Richa Ghosh wants to drag it to the leg side but gets it through the inner half of the bat to beside of the pitch to the leg side.

18.1: Deandra Dottin to Kanika Ahuja, A low full toss, around middle, Kanika Ahuja uses her feet and drills it to long off for a single. Bengaluru need just 6 now.

17.6: Priya Mishra to Richa Ghosh, SIX! HOW EASILY SHE HAS COVERED IT! Tossed up, around off and middle, Richa Ghosh goes on her knee and makes room by clearing out her front leg and thumps it over the long on fielder for a biggie.

17.5: Priya Mishra to Richa Ghosh, Around off and middle, fuller in length, Richa Ghosh goes on her knee and sweeps at it towards deep backward square leg for a couple of runs.

17.4: Priya Mishra to Richa Ghosh, FOUR! A FIFTY OFF JUST 23 BALLS! A Stunning inning under pressure from the destructive middle order batter! Nagging length, outside off, Richa Ghosh extends her arms to drive it in the gap towards sweeper cover for another boundary to complete the milestone. 

17.3: Priya Mishra to Richa Ghosh, FOUR! GETS THE BOUNDARY NOW! Priya keeps it shorter, and outside off, Richa Ghosh presses back in quick time and cuts it hard in the gap towards deep point for a boundary.

17.2: Priya Mishra to Richa Ghosh, A bit slower and short, outside off, comes late than expected to Ghosh as he ends up flats batting at it back to the bowler.

17.1: Priya Mishra to Kanika Ahuja, Nagging length, outside off, Kanika Ahuja uses her feet and makes room to slap it past the diving cover fielder for a single.

16.6: Deandra Dottin to Kanika Ahuja, Goes fuller now, around off, Kanika Ahuja pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

16.5: Deandra Dottin to Kanika Ahuja, FOUR! INNOVATION THIS TIME! Good length again, around off, Kanika Ahuja moves across to cover the line and scoops it over short fine leg for another boundary. This partnership has just turned the tables for Bengaluru. 

16.4: Deandra Dottin to Kanika Ahuja, FOUR! STREAKY BUT KANIKA WON'T MIND IT! Full ball, and outside off, Kanika Ahuja clears out her front leg and makes room to slice it but gets it through the outer half of the bat as the ball runs away to the boundary towards deep third.

16.3: Deandra Dottin to Richa Ghosh, On a good length, around middle, Richa uses her wrists to flick it towards deep backward square leg but gets only a single.

16.2: Deandra Dottin to Richa Ghosh, FOUR! PURE POWER! Much fuller, outside off, Richa Ghosh clears out her front leg and drills it powerfully towards extra cover. The ball goes through the hands of Ash Gardner and races away to the boundary.

16.1: Deandra Dottin to Kanika Ahuja, In the air but falls in the vacant region towards square leg! A high full toss, around middle, Kanika Ahuja transfers her weight to the back foot and looks to heave it to the leg side but doesn't get the desired connection as the ball skews up in the air but doesn't go in the hands of the fielder. The batters run for a single. Kanika Ahuja thinks that it is a bit high and she has reviewed it for a NO BALL! The third umpire comes into play and they think it is a legal ball after seeing the replays. 

16.1: Deandra Dottin to Kanika Ahuja, WIDE! On a good length, but down the leg side, Kanika Ahuja has a swing at it but misses. Called a wide.

Strategic break! Well, well, how the tables have turned in the last couple of overs! Once Ellyse Perry departed, Gujarat must have felt they were in control but that dropped catch of Richa Ghosh is proving to be very costly. 39 runs in the last two overs and with 40 needed off 24 balls, you wouldn't bet against the pair of Ghosh and Kanika Ahuja going on and sealing the win. However, one wicket and things could change dramatically again, so, hang on tight, it should be a topsy-turvy finish.

15.6: Ash Gardner to Richa Ghosh, Finally a dot ball for Gujarat! Nagging length, around off, Richa Ghosh just defends it to cover.

15.5: Ash Gardner to Richa Ghosh, FOUR! A FLURRY OF BOUNDARIES HERE! Darts in full, just outside off, a bit quick, Richa Ghosh opens the face of the bat off late and steers it to the boundary at deep third. There comes 50 runs for this partnership.

15.4: Ash Gardner to Richa Ghosh, FOUR! AND ANOTHER! Nagging length, around middle, Richa Ghosh presses back in quick time and swipes at it towards mid-wicket. The fielder at deep mid-wicket Kashvee Gautam runs into her right and even makes a dive to stop the boundary but fails to do so.

15.3: Ash Gardner to Richa Ghosh, FOUR! DEFT TOUCH! Drags her length, just outside off, quicker, Richa Ghosh lets the ball comes to her and then opens the face of the bat to guide it towards deep third for a boundary.

15.2: Ash Gardner to Richa Ghosh, SIX! 150 comes up for Bengaluru! Tossed up this time, around off and middle, keeps it slower, Richa Ghosh goes on her knee and launches it down the ground over long on for a biggie. ABSOLUTE POWER!

15.2: Ash Gardner to Richa Ghosh, WIDE! Sprays it down the leg side, much fuller, Ghosh looks to flick it but misses. Called a wide.

15.1: Ash Gardner to Richa Ghosh, FOUR! PUNISHED! Darts in full and well outside off, Richa Ghosh stays leg side of the ball and drills it in the gap hard towards sweeper cover for a boundary.

14.6: Sayali Satghare to Richa Ghosh, Full and on off, Richa Ghosh drives it on the front full and along the ground to long off for another single. 63 needed now off 30 balls.

14.5: Sayali Satghare to Kanika Ahuja, Ouch, that must have hurt! Fuller delivery on middle and leg, Kanika Ahuja firms it back towards the bowler and the ball deflects off Ahuja's boot to long on for a single.

14.4: Sayali Satghare to Kanika Ahuja, FOUR! Smart batting from Kanika Ahuja and she is keeping her side in the contest here. Slower one, a bit short over leg, Ahuja steps across to the off side and pulls it fine towards the fine leg fence for four more runs.

14.3: Sayali Satghare to Richa Ghosh, Just wide! Hard length at the stumps, Richa Ghosh swats it across the line, flat and wide of Harleen Deol who sprung across and will get a single in the deep.

14.2: Sayali Satghare to Kanika Ahuja, FIVE RUNS! Overthrows and four of them as well! Full and straight, Ahuja jams it out to mid off for a quick single. The fielder there has a shy at the bowler's end but misses and it goes wide of the keeper as well. No one's backing up and the ball rolls away to the fine leg fence.

14.1: Sayali Satghare to Kanika Ahuja, FOUR! Up and over! Pitched up outside off, Kanika Ahuja steps down the track, state leg side of the ball and lifts it over extra cover for a boundary. 

13.6: Tanuja Kanwer to Richa Ghosh, Flighted up around middle and leg, Ghosh looks to get inside the line and paddle it fine but can't quite get it way.

13.5: Tanuja Kanwer to Richa Ghosh, Just marginally short and on middle, Ghosh rocks back and makes room but hits it straight to covers.

13.4: Tanuja Kanwer to Richa Ghosh, Drags the length back, bowling it flat and at the stumps, Ghosh hits it wide of long on and picks up a couple of more runs.

13.3: Tanuja Kanwer to Richa Ghosh, SIX! Just gets enough elevation there! Fired in full, on middle, Richa Ghosh clears the front leg and heaves it flat and just over a leaping Deandra Dottin at long on for a six. Bengaluru need a lot more of these now.

13.2: Tanuja Kanwer to Kanika Ahuja, Drags the length back and angles it into the middle and leg pole, Kanika Ahuja backs away and pulls it down to long on for another single.

13.1: Tanuja Kanwer to Richa Ghosh, Darts it in full, on middle and leg, this is jammed out firmly down to long on for a single by Ghosh.

Tanuja Kanwer is back in to replace Priya Mishra.

12.6: Sayali Satghare to Kanika Ahuja, Excellent running! Slightly fuller and at the pads, nudged away into the vacant spaces through mid-wicket for a single but the batters quickly realise that the second run is there for the taking and hustle back quite easily.

12.5: Sayali Satghare to Richa Ghosh, Keeps it full and looks to angle it into the middle and leg stumps, Ghosh takes the front leg out and drills it down to long on for one.

12.4: Sayali Satghare to Richa Ghosh, Pitched-up delivery, around off, Richa Ghosh gets forward and plays it straight to extra cover.

12.3: Sayali Satghare to Kanika Ahuja, On a hard length, angled across the left-hander, Kanika Ahuja stays back and cuts it through backward point for a single.

Kanika Ahuja is the new batter in.

12.2: Sayali Satghare to Ellyse Perry, OUT! CAUGHT! Laura Wolvaardt won't drop those and Ellyse Perry has to perish here. Sayali Satghare looks to full and straight but just misses her mark and serves a low full toss instead. Never easy to get under those but Perry steps in nd lofts it away towards long on, doesn't get the timing on it and Laura Wolvaardt sits down to take a reverse cup catch. End of a solid knock from Perry but Gujarat are now right on top.

12.1: Sayali Satghare to Richa Ghosh, Pitches the ball up around off, Ghosh gets on the front foot and just drives it towards long off for a single.

Sayali Satghare (2-0-23-0) is back on.

11.6: Priya Mishra to Ellyse Perry, FOUR! Spoils the good over with a loose delivery! A half-tracker around leg, Ellyse Perry has all the time in the world to rock back and pull it behind square leg and into the vacant fence.

11.5: Priya Mishra to Richa Ghosh, Short and outside off again, cut away off the back foot to deep point for just one more.

11.4: Priya Mishra to Ellyse Perry, On a dragged length and outside off, Ellyse Perry rocks back and chops it wide of point for a single.

11.3: Priya Mishra to Ellyse Perry, Nagging length, just outside off, Ellyse Perry presses back and dabs it towards backward point. 

11.2: Priya Mishra to Richa Ghosh, DROPPED! Another one put down and Simran Shaikh isn't having the best of times in the outfield. Tossed up around middle, Richa Ghosh goes down on one knee right away and slog-sweeps it well in front of deep mid-wicket. Simran does the hard work by running around and reachin it but then spills it out. Just a single then.

11.1: Priya Mishra to Ellyse Perry, On the shorter side and on off, Perry rocks back and pulls it down to long on for a single.

Richa Ghosh is in next.

10.6: Deandra Dottin to Raghvi Bist, OUT! CAUGHT! A maiden Women's T20 League wicket for Deandra Dottin! Dottin brings out the slower delivery and floats it up a bit full and around the pads. Raghvi Bist leans on and looks to turn it away using the wrists but ends up chipping it straight to Sayali Satghare at square leg who makes no mistake. A soft dismissal and Bengaluru lose their third wicket.

10.5: Deandra Dottin to Ellyse Perry, Pitches it up full and outside off, Ellyse Perry gets her front foot across and creams it to deep cover for just a single.

10.4: Deandra Dottin to Ellyse Perry, No harm done! Hits the deck hard and bowls it around off and middle, Ellyse Perry swings firmly across the line but only manages an inside edge onto the body.

10.4: Deandra Dottin to Ellyse Perry, SIX! Oh, that is a beamer from Deandra Dottin and Ellyse Perry brings up her FIFTY in style! A high full toss, angled in at the hips, Perry picks it up early and whips it away over deep backward square leg for a biggie. Perry has also reviewed it for a potential No Ball. The third umpire checks the replays and decides that it was over waist height. NO BALL AND A FREE HIT TO FOLLOW!

10.3: Deandra Dottin to Ellyse Perry, On a fuller length again and outside off, Ellyse Perry drives it straight to covers.

10.2: Deandra Dottin to Ellyse Perry, Good fielding! Fuller in length and at the off stump, Ellyse Perry thumps it down to the right of long off where Harleen Deol runs across and springs onto the ball to save a couple of runs.

10.1: Deandra Dottin to Raghvi Bist, Just back of a length and over middle, Bist runs down the pitch and tucks it away through mid-wicket for one.

Deandra Dottin is also back into the attack.

9.6: Ash Gardner to Ellyse Perry, FOUR! THE GENIUS OF PERRY! Fires in a yorker, outside off, Ellyse Perry lets the ball come to her and then opens the face of the bat to squeeze it in the gap towards short third for a boundary.

9.5: Ash Gardner to Ellyse Perry, Floated up, around off, quicker, Perry works it away to mid-wicket.

9.4: Ash Gardner to Ellyse Perry, Nagging length, around middle, Perry comes forward and flicks it with soft hands and runs off for a couple.

9.3: Ash Gardner to Raghvi Bist, Tossed up, around off, Raghvi Bist goes on her knee and slogs it over mid-wicket. Simran Shaikh does good in the deep to cover a good ground and restricts the batter for just a single.

9.2: Ash Gardner to Ellyse Perry, Nagging length, around off, Perry uses her feet and nudges it to long on for a single.

9.1: Ash Gardner to Raghvi Bist, Drops it short, around middle, Bist goes back in the crease and turns it towards square leg for a single.

Ash Gardner brings herself back into the attack.

8.6: Tanuja Kanwer to Ellyse Perry, FOUR! These are the gifts for Perry and she has accepted that very graciously! Short again, outside off, Ellyse Perry presses back in quick time and punches it off the back foot for a boundary towards sweeper cover. 

8.5: Tanuja Kanwer to Ellyse Perry, Nagging length, around off, Perry punches it hard towards cover. Simran Shaikh makes a fumble there and the batters run for a couple.

8.4: Tanuja Kanwer to Ellyse Perry, Again short, and outside off, but Perry slices it straight to the cover point fielder.

8.3: Tanuja Kanwer to Ellyse Perry, FOUR! PUNISHED! Tanuja drops it short, outside off, Ellyse Perry rocks back and punches it along the ground in the gap wide of long off for a boundary.

8.2: Tanuja Kanwer to Raghvi Bist, Drags her length, around middle and leg, Raghvi Bist shimmies down the track but manages to nudge it towards square leg for a single.

8.1: Tanuja Kanwer to Raghvi Bist, Tossed up, around off, Bist drops it down to cover.

Strategic break! Well, guess everyone needs a breather after those first 8 overs. A lot happening out there in the middle and while Gujarat ruled the roost early on thanks to a double breakthrough from their talismanic skipper, Ash Gardner, they seem to be letting it slip a touch here, especially in the field. Raghvi Bist and Ellyse Perry have already added a 50-plus stand but Perry hasn't quite looked at her best. She has got a life and had a good look in and she could be crucial for both sides. Let's find out how the next phase pans out.

7.6: Sayali Satghare to Ellyse Perry, FOUR! Gujarat's fielders aren't helping their team with these kinda efforts! Bowled fuller, around off, Ellyse Perry clears out her front leg and whips it in the gap towards long on and mid-wicket. Both fielders run to save the boundary but look at each other in the end and meanwhile, the ball races away to the boundary as neither of them makes any attempt to save it.

7.6: Sayali Satghare to Ellyse Perry, FIVE WIDES! What could have been a stumping which has ended in a boundary! Sayali Satghare sprays it down the leg side and on the fuller length, Ellyse Perry shimmies down the track and looks to flick it as the bowler has tricked her by changing her line. Perry misses her flick shot as the keeper moves to her left to collect the ball but gets blinded a bit and fails to do it. The ball goes towards deep fine leg for a boundary and called a wide.

7.5: Sayali Satghare to Raghvi Bist, On a similar length, around middle and leg, Raghvi Bist nudges it wide of mid-wicket for another single.

7.4: Sayali Satghare to Ellyse Perry, On a good length, around off and middle, Ellyse Perry drills it to long on for a single.

7.3: Sayali Satghare to Raghvi Bist, Full again, around off, Raghvi Bist clips it wide of mid-wicket for a single.

7.2: Sayali Satghare to Ellyse Perry, DROPPED! Quite a simple catch for someone like Deol and she spills it! Touch fuller, around off and middle, coming in with the angle, Ellyse Perry goes deep in the crease and looks to loft it to the leg side, She doesn't get the desired elevation as the ball just goes wide of long on where Harleen Deol runs into her right but can't hold on the catch. They take a single.

7.1: Sayali Satghare to Raghvi Bist, Excellent save by Harleen Deol at long on! On a good length, around off and middle, Raghvi Bist uses her feet a bit and drills it down the ground. Deol runs in to his left and makes a dive to save the boundary and restrict the batters to just a single.

6.6: Priya Mishra to Raghvi Bist, Nagging length, outside off, Bist clips it wide of mid-wicket for a single.

6.5: Priya Mishra to Ellyse Perry, Touch short again, around off, Perry nudges it to mid on for a single.

6.4: Priya Mishra to Raghvi Bist, Nagging length, around off, Raghvi Bist again shimmies down the track and looks to push it to long on but gets a thick inside edge towards square leg for a single.

6.3: Priya Mishra to Raghvi Bist, Floated up, around off, Raghvi Bist uses her feet and pushes it to mid on and wants to take a quick single but the fielder is quick enough to restrict both batters.

6.2: Priya Mishra to Raghvi Bist, Touch fuller, and outside off, Raghvi Bist looks to sweep it but misses.

6.1: Priya Mishra to Ellyse Perry, Tossed up, outside off, Ellyse Perry strides forward and looks to drive it but gets it through the inner half of the bat towards square leg for a single.

5.6: Sayali Satghare to Ellyse Perry, On a good length, around off, Perry pushes it to mid on for a single.

5.5: Sayali Satghare to Ellyse Perry, SIX! UP AND OVER! Sayali Satghare serves it fuller again, around off, Ellyse Perry just gets to the pitch of the ball and lofts it over long off for a biggie. The connection wasn't that good but it went all the way.

5.4: Sayali Satghare to Raghvi Bist, Around off and fuller, Raghvi Bist comes forward and nudges it wide of mid on for a single.

5.3: Sayali Satghare to Raghvi Bist, Nagging length, outside off, Bist comes forward and steers it to mid off.

5.2: Sayali Satghare to Ellyse Perry, A CHANCE OF RUNOUT IS GONE FOR GUJARAT! On a good length, around off and middle, Ellyse Perry tucks it towards mid-wicket and runs off for a quick single. There is a miscommunication as Perry wants to have a single but Raghvi Bist doesn't respond on time. And they both were in the middle of the create but then Raghvi tried to complete the run. The fielder at mid-wicket throws the ball to wide of the stumps where the keeper Beth Mooney can't hold the ball in the throw and the batter makes it to the crease. 

5.1: Sayali Satghare to Ellyse Perry, Back of a length, around off, Ellyse Perry presses back and drops it down to the right of the bowler.

Another debutant, Sayali Satghare comes in to bowl the final over of the Powerplay.

4.6: Kashvee Gautam to Raghvi Bist, Three dots in a row to end the over! Full and angled well into the batter, Raghvi Bist looks to heave but is beaten on the inside edge and gets hit on the pads.

4.5: Kashvee Gautam to Raghvi Bist, Just back of a length and around off stump, Raghvi Bist hops across and pushes the ball out to covers.

4.4: Kashvee Gautam to Raghvi Bist, On a good length, targeting off and middle, Bist covers the line and blocks it off.

4.3: Kashvee Gautam to Raghvi Bist, FOUR! Kashvee Gautam needs to get her line correct here but that's another well-timed shot from Bist. Not all that full but pretty wide of the off stump, Raghvi Bist reaches for it and just caresses it square through the off side for another boundary.

4.2: Kashvee Gautam to Raghvi Bist, FOUR! Nicely done! Pitched up on middle, angling in, Raghvi Bist just leans forward and uses those wrists to maneuver the ball between mid on and mid-wicket for a boundary.

4.1: Kashvee Gautam to Ellyse Perry, Kashvee comes back on and starts with a hard-length ball outside off. Ellyse Perry stays back and punches it firmly through covers for a single.

3.6: Tanuja Kanwer to Ellyse Perry, On a dragged length and outside off, punched away from the crease and wide of covers for a quick single.

3.5: Tanuja Kanwer to Ellyse Perry, FOUR! Easy pickings for someone like Perry! Too short and at the pads, Perry rocks back and flicks it away well behind square leg for a boundary.

3.4: Tanuja Kanwer to Raghvi Bist, Uppish but safe! Really slow and short at the stumps, Raghvi Bist goes deep in the crease and miscues the pull wide of mid on for a single.

3.3: Tanuja Kanwer to Ellyse Perry, PUT DOWN! A very tough chance and Ellyse Perry survives here. Tossed up around off, Perry steps out and crunches the ball straight back, a bit uppishly as well and Tanuja Kanwer can't react in time. The ball bursts through her hands to roll towards mid off as the batters get a ingle.

3.2: Tanuja Kanwer to Ellyse Perry, Well short again and outside off, Perry stands tall and reaches out to cut but hits it straight to point.

3.1: Tanuja Kanwer to Raghvi Bist, Tanuja Kanwer comes into the attack and starts from around the wicket. This is bowled slow and short outside off, Raghvi Bist goes back and across before forcing it through mid on for a run.

2.6: Deandra Dottin to Raghvi Bist, Just back of a length and over middle, tucked away wide of mid on for a single by Bist.

2.5: Deandra Dottin to Raghvi Bist, FOUR! Streaky but Raghvi Bist is able to get off the mark here! A skiddy bumper from Dottin, bowled around off, Bist looks to take it on but gets rushed and gets a top edge over short third for a boundary.

2.4: Deandra Dottin to Raghvi Bist, FOUR LEG BYES! Straying in line there Dottin! Full and angled down leg, Bist misses the flick but the ball just clips the pads and runs away past the keeper into the fine leg fence.

2.3: Deandra Dottin to Raghvi Bist, Missed opportunity! Deandra Dottin misses her mark with the straight yorker and serves a full toss, Raghvi Bist looks to have it but is hurried and mistimes the ball to mid on.

2.3: Deandra Dottin to Raghvi Bist, WIDE! Dishes out a full and wide one now, a bit too wide outside off though.

2.2: Deandra Dottin to Raghvi Bist, Pitches the ball up on middle and leg, Raghvi Bist plays it on the up and straight to mid on.

2.1: Deandra Dottin to Ellyse Perry, Length ball, swinging it into the pads, Ellyse Perry gets an inside edge off the pads and the ball rolls behind square leg. They get a single.

Debutant, Raghvi Bist is the new batter in. Also, Deandra Dottin comes on to bowl.

1.6: Ash Gardner to Danni Wyatt-Hodge, OUT! TIMBER! Ash Gardner can do nothing wrong this evening it seems! Tosses this one up, a bit quicker and fuller, straighter too and gets it to just dip on the crease. Danni Wyatt-Hodge opts for a big slog sweep which is a risky shot and ends up playing all over it. The ball smashes into the middle stump and Bengaluru are already 2 down for 14!

1.5: Ash Gardner to Danni Wyatt-Hodge, On the shorter side and turning in from outside off, cut away off the back foot to point.

1.4: Ash Gardner to Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Tossed up outside off, Danni Wyatt-Hodge uses her feet to step out and eases it towards covers.

1.3: Ash Gardner to Ellyse Perry, Oh, close! Over the wicket now, fired in on a length, attacking the off stump, Ellyse Perry looks to play it late but is almost too late and jams it wide of short third for a single.

Ellyse Perry is in at number 3.

1.2: Ash Gardner to Smriti Mandhana, OUT! LBW! A loud appeal and up goes the finger and Smriti Mandhana starts walking as well. However, Danni Wyatt-Hodge calls her and urges her to have a look and Mandhana does eventually review it. Ash Gardner bowls this one flat and on a length around off, this is the one that darts in with the arm. Mandhana goes on the back foot and looks to play a cross-batted shot but plays all around it and gets pinged in front of the stumps. The third umpire is called in. Nothing on UltraEdge and Ball Tracking comes up with three reds, poor review from Bengaluru. This was the crucial match-up and Gardner has once again come out on top, a huge wicket this.

1.1: Ash Gardner to Smriti Mandhana, Around the wicket to the left-hander, bowled on a dragged length and on off, Mandhana presses back to defend.

Skipper, Ash Gardner to share the new ball with Kashvee Gautam.

0.6: Kashvee Gautam to Danni Wyatt-Hodge, FOUR! That's some way to start your Women's T20 League career! This one is bowled from over the wicket and pitched up around off, angling in, Danni Wyatt-Hodge gets a stride across and creams it through cover-point for a boundary. 13 off the first over of the chase!

0.5: Kashvee Gautam to Smriti Mandhana, Keeps the length full but angles it into the pads, Mandhana clips it away down to deep backward square leg for one. There is a slight fumble as well and Danni Wyatt-Hodge calls for the double but Mandhana isn't watching the ball and it will be just a run.

0.4: Kashvee Gautam to Smriti Mandhana, Nice and full again, straight at the stumps, tucked away straight to mid-wicket.

0.3: Kashvee Gautam to Smriti Mandhana, Much better from Kashvee! Goes full and around off, in the blockhole, Mandhana just pushes it out to mid off.

0.2: Kashvee Gautam to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR MORE! Just fractionally short again and this time outside off, Smriti Mandhana stands tall and just slaps the ball away through the point region for back-to-back boundaries.

0.1: Kashvee Gautam to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! A real gift to start proceedings and Smriti Mandhana pounces all over it. Short and around off from around the stumps, Mandhana swivel-pulls it away in front of square and through the gap for a boundary.

Right then, all set for the chase! The umpires are back out in the middle and the players of Gujarat are also seen spreading onto the field of play. It will be Danni Wyatt-Hodge who will be Smriti Mandhana's new opening partner for Bengaluru as the duo also take their places out in the middle. Debutant, Kashvee Gautam has been handed the new ball and she is raring to go. Let's play...

We are almost back for the chase but a few visuals from the ground show that there was even a halftime show for the fans with some singing and dancing and that is a great way to kick off the new season.

... The Run Chase ...

Now, Gujarat is clearly in the driver’s seat with this strong total. The pitch is flat, but having runs on the board will give their bowlers a huge confidence boost. They will look to carry forward the momentum set by their captain. Bengaluru, on the other hand, needs to forget the last eight overs and focus entirely on the chase. The dew could come into play and make things a bit easier for them. So, who will come out on top in the second inning? Don’t go anywhere as the action isn't far away!

Bengaluru’s bowlers were impressive in the first 12 overs, maintaining pressure with regular breakthroughs. Their fielding was sharp during that phase too, but everything changed once Gardner and Dottin took charge, he pressure got to them, and they started fumbling in the field, dropping crucial catches and losing their accuracy with the ball. The bowlers, who started so well, struggled to keep the same intensity. Smriti Mandhana rotated her bowlers smartly, but they just couldn’t handle the onslaught in the final eight overs.

Gujarat started well, thanks to their opener Beth Mooney, who made full use of the powerplay, finding the boundaries with ease. Laura Wolvaardt, on the other hand, wasn’t at her best and fell for a low score. But Mooney kept the scoreboard ticking, reached her half-century, and laid the perfect platform for the middle-order batters. Then came the skipper, Ash Gardner, at number four, and she built the only fifty-run partnership of the inning with debutant Deandra Dottin. Both batters took on the bowlers from both ends, shifting the pressure back on Bengaluru. Gardner was in destructive form, reaching her fifty in just 25 balls and smashing some of the biggest sixes of the night. She cleared the ropes 11 times in this inning, giving Gujarat the perfect finishing touch with a captain’s knock.

What an exciting and eventful inning this has been for Gujarat! At one stage, they were looking at an under-par total, but they ended up with a massive 201/5. They will be the happier side, walking back to the dressing room with all the momentum and it’s all because of one player, their skipper Ash Gardner. She is known worldwide for her powerful hitting down the order and she proved exactly why she has that reputation. Bengaluru had things under control for the first 12 overs, picking up wickets at regular intervals and keeping the scoring rate in check. But they completely lost their grip in a span of just four overs after that as they went for 61 runs between the 13th and 16th overs, and they’ll surely regret letting Gujarat off the hook.

19.6: Kim Garth to Harleen Deol, FOUR! Harleen Deol spoils a perfectly good final over from Kim Garth with a couple of boundaries and propels Gujarat over the 200-run mark. Full and wide again, Deol goes after it and squeezes it firmly and behind deep point. Danni Wyatt-Hodge runs to her left and dives in to get to the ball but it deflects off her and into the fence for a four. Gujarat finish with their highest-ever total in the Women's T20 League, with 201/5 on the board!

19.5: Kim Garth to Harleen Deol, FOUR! Attempted slower one, turns out to be a juicy full toss on the pads, Harleen Deol pulls it well wide of short fine leg and picks up a boundary.

19.4: Kim Garth to Harleen Deol, Full and wide outside off, just pushing this one wide of the tramline and a wide is called. Smriti Mandhana though has reviewed the decision. Harleen Deol did reach out for it a bit and the third umpire will now have a look at it. The third umpire decides that Deol did get across a bit and the ball was within her reach, NO WIDE!

19.3: Kim Garth to Ash Gardner, Top over so far from Garth! Nails another one into the blackhole around the fifth stump line, this time Gardner jams it out to mid off for a single.

19.2: Kim Garth to Ash Gardner, Another dot! Full and wide outside off again, flirting with the tramline, Ash Gardner reaches out to drive but misses and a fair delivery is called.

19.1: Kim Garth to Ash Gardner, Nicely bowled! Full and wide outside off, nailed in the blockhole, Ash Gardner toe-ends it back onto the deck.

18.6: Georgia Wareham to Ash Gardner, Full and at the legs again but this time it is fired in, Gardner flicks it away wide of deep mid-wicket for a single.

18.5: Georgia Wareham to Ash Gardner, SIX! It all seems a bit too easy for Ash Gardner as she brings up her eighth six of this inning. Flighted up, on middle and leg, Gardner takes the front leg out and just flicks it effortlessly over deep square leg for a biggie.

18.4: Georgia Wareham to Harleen Deol, Nice and full at the stumps, Harleen Deol brings out the sweep and hits it firmly to deep square leg for a run.

18.4: Georgia Wareham to Harleen Deol, WIDE! Another one that is drifted down leg, this time way down and left alone for another wide.

18.4: Georgia Wareham to Harleen Deol, WIDE! Fired in a bit but down the leg side for a wide.

Harleen Deol is in next.

18.3: Georgia Wareham to Simran Shaikh, OUT! CASTLED! Georgia Wareham has the last laugh in this battle but Simran Shaikh will feel she has done her job. Wareham goes full and straight, darting it in, Simran sits down and looks to slog across the line but the ball dips and she ends up playing all over a straight ball. The ball rattles the middle stump and Simran has to walk back.

18.2: Georgia Wareham to Simran Shaikh, SIX! Clean strike this time around! Tossed up outside off, Simran Shaikh gets a good stride across nd just swats it flat over the extra cover boundary for a biggie.

18.1: Georgia Wareham to Simran Shaikh, FOUR! Streaky but Simran Shaikh and Gujarat will take it! Short and outside off, looking to force it off the back foot but ends up slicing it wide of short third for a boundary.

17.6: Joshitha V J to Ash Gardner, SIX! Ash Gardner has gone berserk here! Another one that is pitched up, around off and Gardner just swings through the line, hammering it over long on for another biggie. 21 off that over!

17.5: Joshitha V J to Ash Gardner, SIX! THAT IS MASSIVE! Relatively full and at the stumps, Ash Gardner takes a stance around the off stump and gets inside the line before whipping it a long way over deep square leg for a six.

17.4: Joshitha V J to Ash Gardner, Pitched up wide outside off and seaming further away, Ash Gardner comes down the track to go over covers but is well beaten. Sharp work from Richa Ghosh behind the stumps as she under-arms a throw at the stumps. The umpires do go upstairs but the replays show that Gardner wandered back into her crease on time.

17.3: Joshitha V J to Simran Shaikh, Hard length around off, punched away through covers for a single.

17.2: Joshitha V J to Ash Gardner, Goes full and wide now, Gardner reaches for it and slashes it uppishly down to deep cover for a single.

17.1: Joshitha V J to Ash Gardner, SIX! BANG! Just too full on middle right in the blackhole, Ash Gardner clears the front leg and whacks it over cow corner for a biggie.

16.6: Renuka Singh Thakur to Simran Shaikh, Floated up full on the pads, nudged away straight to short fine leg.

Simran Shaikh, the debutant is in next.

16.5: Renuka Singh Thakur to Deandra Dottin, OUT! CAUGHT! A third catching opportunity in the over and this time, it is held on to and Ellyse Perry will be a relieved figure. Renuka Singh Thakur goes full and straight this time, Deandra Dottin backs away to bring out the slog and hammers it flat to the right of deep mid-wicket. Danni Wyatt-Hodge judges the trajectory well and dives across to take a low catch. End of an entertaining cameo from Dottin.

16.4: Renuka Singh Thakur to Ash Gardner, Full length at the stumps, Ash Gardner jams it away through mid-wicket for one more.

16.3: Renuka Singh Thakur to Deandra Dottin, Pitched up full around off, Deandra Dottin with a deft reverse lap wide of short third for a single.

16.2: Renuka Singh Thakur to Ash Gardner, What an effort in the deep! Pitched up again and outside off, Ash Gardner backs away and lifts it high towards the long off fence. Georgia Wareham there keeps her eyes on the ball but it seems to be just sailing over her. Wareham leaps up and grabs it out of thin air and has the presence of mind to flick it back in time. A massive five runs saved there.

16.1: Renuka Singh Thakur to Deandra Dottin, DROPPED! Would you believe it? Of all the fielders in the world, the least you would expect to drop this catch but Ellyse Perry has floored it. Renuka Singh Thakur bowls it full and angles it into the stumps, Deandra Dottin backs away to go big but mistimes it down to long on. Perry doesn't come much forward and the ball drops on her and pops out of the hands. A single taken and how costly could that prove to be for Bengaluru?

Strategic break! So, so, so Gurajarat have changed the course of the game in the last four overs as they have added 61 runs in that span. They were on the verge of looking at a mid-to-average total on this pitch halfway through the inning but their skipper thought something else as Ash Gardner started firing and Deandra Dottin joined her skipper on her debut. They both are looking so good on the crease and must be looking for a big total. Bengaluru kept the things tightly for the first twelve overs but their bowlers have given away too many runs which can haunt them when they come to chase. They just now need to take a couple of wickets to snatch that momentum back to their side. What is going to happen in the last four overs?

15.6: Joshitha V J to Deandra Dottin, In the air... but will land safely! Full and wide outside off, Deandra Dottin sets up deep in her crease and throws the bat at it, only to toe-end it over extra cover. The ball land short of the onrushing long off fielder and they get a single.

15.5: Joshitha V J to Ash Gardner, Ash Gardner brings her form from the Women's Ashes to the Women's T20 League and notches up a FIFTY on in the first game. Back of a length and outside off, just tapped away from the crease and wide of point for a run.

15.4: Joshitha V J to Deandra Dottin, Drags it well wide of the off stump, a bit slower too, Deandra Dottin reaches out and cuts it in front of square for a single.

15.3: Joshitha V J to Deandra Dottin, SIX! That's the brute power Deandra Dottin possesses and these are ominous signs for Bengaluru now. Full and around off, in the blackhole, Dottin stays deep and clears the front leg, before going on one knee and smashing it flat over the bowler's head for a biggie.

15.2: Joshitha V J to Ash Gardner, Good-length delivery at the stumps, turned away through mid-wicket for a single by Gardner.

15.1: Joshitha V J to Ash Gardner, FOUR! That is immaculate timing from Ash! A perfectly good delivery, just short of a good length and angling away from around off. Ash Gardner waits on it well and just strokes it away wide of sweeper cover for a boundary.

Joshitha V J is back into the attack now.

14.6: Georgia Wareham to Ash Gardner, Nagging length, around leg, Ash Gardner turns it towards square leg for a single.

14.5: Georgia Wareham to Ash Gardner, FOUR! ANOTHER BOUNDARY! Overcorrects her length and pitches up this time does Georgia Wareham around the leg stump, Ash Gardner dances down the track and looks to flick it but manages to get a thick inside edge only that races away to the boundary at deep fine leg.

14.4: Georgia Wareham to Ash Gardner, FOUR! GARDNER IS ON A ROLL! Drops it short, outside off, Ash Gardner is quick enough to rock back in the crease and slices it in the gap towards backward point for a boundary.

14.3: Georgia Wareham to Deandra Dottin, Fuller, outside off, Deandra Dottin comes forward and steers it to long off for a single.

14.2: Georgia Wareham to Deandra Dottin, FOUR! DOTTIN JOINS THE PARTY! Floated up, on the fourth stump, Deandra Dottin comes down the track and lofts it inside out over wide mid off for a boundary. 

14.1: Georgia Wareham to Ash Gardner, Tossed up, outside off, Ash Gardner comes forward and nudges it towards long on for a single.

Georgia Wareham is back on. She went for 15 in her first over.

13.6: Prema Rawat to Ash Gardner, Nagging length, outside off, Ash Gardner cuts it off the back foot to deep point for a single.

13.5: Prema Rawat to Ash Gardner, SIX! MAKES IT THREE IN A ROW! Prema drops it shorter this time, and changes her line to the leg stump, Ash Gardner goes back on the back foot and swivels to pull it over deep backward square leg for the third six in the row.

13.4: Prema Rawat to Ash Gardner, SIX! CRACKING SOUND OF THE BAT! Full again, keeps it much slower, around middle, Ash Gardner again shimmies down the track a bit and lofts it over deep mid-wicket for another maximum. 

13.3: Prema Rawat to Ash Gardner, SIX! PUNISHED! Tossed up, around middle, but in the slot, Ash Gardner uses her feet to get to the pitch of the ball and launches it over long off for a biggie.

13.2: Prema Rawat to Ash Gardner, LEG BYE! Slower through the air, around middle and leg, fuller in length, Ash Gardner goes on her knee and clears out her front leg to slog it over deep mid-wicket but misses. They run for a couple for leg byes as the ball rolls away wide of short third.

13.1: Prema Rawat to Ash Gardner, Tossed up, around off, Ash uses her feet to drive it to cover.

12.6: Kim Garth to Deandra Dottin, FOUR! THIS TIME IT IS A DELICATE TOUCH! Back of a length, just outside off and angling in, Deandra Dottin waits for the ball and opens the face of the bat very late to play it finely towards deep third for another boundary.

12.5: Kim Garth to Deandra Dottin, FOUR! PICKS IT UP! Slower full ball, outside off, Deandra Dottin picks the lack of the pace on the ball and lets the ball come to her to loft it over cover for a boundary.

12.4: Kim Garth to Deandra Dottin, Bangs in short of a length, wide outside off, Deandra Dottin hops and looks to cut it off late but misses.

12.3: Kim Garth to Ash Gardner, Leg bye! Pace off, slower length ball, follows the batter, down the leg side, Ash Gardner shimmies down the track and looks to flick it but misses. They run for a single as the ball gets deflected towards point after hitting the front pad.

12.2: Kim Garth to Deandra Dottin, Back of a length, outside off, Deandra Dottin hops up a bit and drops it down wide of short third for a quick single.

12.1: Kim Garth to Ash Gardner, On a good length, just outside off, Ash Gardner lets the ball come to her and then opens the face of the bat to guide it to deep cover for a single.

Kim Garth (2-0-15-0) is back into the attack.

11.6: Prema Rawat to Ash Gardner, Fuller again, outside off, Ash Gardner uses her feet and pushes it to long off for a single to keep the strike.

11.5: Prema Rawat to Deandra Dottin, Floated up, outside off, Deandra Dottin steers it to long off for a single.

Deandra Dottin walks in to make her Women's T20 League debut.

11.4: Prema Rawat to Beth Mooney, OUT! CAUGHT! Bengaluru have got the much-needed breakthrough as the growing partnership is broken! Prema Rawat gives air to the full ball, just outside off, Beth Mooney goes on her knee and drags it as he sweeps it but doesn't get the elevation and it goes straight to the short mid-wicket fielder where Smriti Mandhana takes it at her knee height. End of a fine knock from Mooney but she will be disappointed to perish just when she really started to shift the gears.

11.3: Prema Rawat to Beth Mooney, FOUR! WHAT STELLAR TIMING! Tossed up, outside off, much slower, Beth Mooney dances down the pitch and just lofts it inside out over cover. The ball just lands inside the rope and goes on the bounce.

11.2: Prema Rawat to Beth Mooney, Slower through the air, outside off, on the tempting length, Beth Mooney dabs it to backward point.

11.1: Prema Rawat to Ash Gardner, Much fuller, almost a yorker, outside off, Ash Gardner drills it to sweeper cover for a single.

Another debutant, Prema Rawat to have a bowl now.

10.6: Kanika Ahuja to Ash Gardner, Fuller again, around off, Ash uses her feet and nudges it to mid on for a single.

10.5: Kanika Ahuja to Ash Gardner, SIX! THUMPED! Flighted up, around off and middle, slower through the air, Ash Gardner shimmies down the track and launches it over the long on fielder for a biggie.

10.4: Kanika Ahuja to Ash Gardner, Good fielding! Floated up, outside off, Ash Gardner comes forward and extends her arms to drive it towards cover as the ball beats the diving cover fielder and goes on. Georgia Wareham runs to her left from long off and makes a dive to her left to save the boundary. Meanwhile, the batters run for a couple as Wareham also makes a direct hit at the bowler's end. The third umpire checks but the batter is comfortably back in her crease.

10.3: Kanika Ahuja to Beth Mooney, Tossed up, around off, Mooney dabs it towards point for a single.

10.2: Kanika Ahuja to Ash Gardner, Drops it much shorter this time, on the fourth stump, Ash Gardner goes onto the back foot and clears out her front leg to pull it uppishly for a single.

10.1: Kanika Ahuja to Beth Mooney, Nagging length, around off, Beth Mooney presses back and drills it back to the bowler who does a midfield and the batters run for a single towards deep square leg.

9.6: Georgia Wareham to Beth Mooney, FIFTY for Beth Mooney, the first one of the new season and the fourth of Mooney's Women's T20 League career. Fired in at the legs again, Mooney advances and pushes the ball down to wide long on for a single. She will now look to take this innings deep.

9.5: Georgia Wareham to Beth Mooney, FOUR! Beth Mooney just toying with her Aussie teammate now, a hat-trick of boundaries! Fired in full on leg stump, Mooney is quick to sit down and sweeps it firmly past short fine leg for yet another boundary.

9.4: Georgia Wareham to Beth Mooney, FOUR! Beth Mooney using all her experience here! Dropped a bit short on middle and leg, Mooney hops back and gets inside the line before just pulling it over backward square leg for another boundary.

9.3: Georgia Wareham to Beth Mooney, MISFIELD AND FOUR! Tossed up, full and outside off, Beth Mooney dances down the pitch and backs away before hammering it to the right of Kanika Ahuja at covers who should have one better. The ball rolls away to the fence.

9.2: Georgia Wareham to Beth Mooney, An appeal and given! Beth Mooney has reviewed it right away though. The only thing to probably look out for is whether the ball pitched outside leg or in line of the stumps. Another leg break from Georgia Wareham, tossed up on a nagging length around leg, Mooney gets inside the line to sweep it fine but seems to have missed it and gets hit on the pads. The third umpire is called in and UltraEdge shows a faint inside edge and the decision is changed to NOT OUT! Mooney knew it right away!

9.1: Georgia Wareham to Beth Mooney, Nicely tossed up from over the wicket and at the pads, Beth Mooney clips it away into the deep towards deep mid-wicket and looks for two but slips. However, the fielder, Danni Wyatt-Hodge slips as well and the batters do get the second run.

Strategic break! The inning of Gujarat hasn't gone the way as they would have hoped for in their first match of this season but they are placed at 53/2 after the first nine overs. Their skipper has just come into the crease and has joined her counterpart as they both look to continue the strike-rotating for a couple of overs and would love to give a big finish to give their bowlers a good total to defend. On the other hand. Bengaluru have been brilliant on the field in both bowling and fielding. They have bowled tighter lines and lengths and haven't given away much simultaneously picking up two key wickets. An interesting passage of play is ahead of us as to which team will take on the other one. 

8.6: Kanika Ahuja to Beth Mooney, A bit too short and outside off, Beth Mooney backs away and cuts it firmly but not much to the right of deep point. Just a single then.

8.5: Kanika Ahuja to Beth Mooney, Good work from the bowler! Tossed up at the stumps, Mooney comes down the pitch and plays it to the left of the bowler but Kanika Ahuja dives across and makes a fine stop.

8.4: Kanika Ahuja to Beth Mooney, This one is drifted down the leg side, full as well, Mooney laps it straight to short fine leg. Can't quite find the gaps in the field at the moment.

8.3: Kanika Ahuja to Beth Mooney, Flatter delivery, targeting the stumps again, Mooney looks to go over covers but mistimes the shot to mid off.

8.2: Kanika Ahuja to Beth Mooney, A nice-looking shot for two! Tossed up on middle, Beth Mooney stays leg side of the ball and plays the inside-out shot wide of long off where Ellyse Perry tidies up and keeps it down to a brace.

8.1: Kanika Ahuja to Beth Mooney, Floated up quite full on middle and leg, Beth Mooney brings out the reverse sweep but hits it straight to point.

7.6: Joshitha V J to Ash Gardner, Nice and full at the stumps, hint of movement as well, Gardner leans on and just plays it back to the bowler.

7.5: Joshitha V J to Ash Gardner, Just short of a good length and around the off stump line, Gardner plays it on the up and gently towards extra cover.

7.4: Joshitha V J to Beth Mooney, Oh, sloppy work in the field but no harm done. Tightens the line and bowls it on a hard length over middle, Mooney dabs it down to covers for a quick single and there is a slight misfield but they don't get the extra run. 50 up for Gujarat!

7.3: Joshitha V J to Beth Mooney, FOUR! Mooney on the charge! Banged in short and around off, Beth Mooney steps down the track and hammers it like a tennis forehand-smash, up and over wide mid-wicket for a boundary.

7.2: Joshitha V J to Ash Gardner, Pitches it right up around middle, gets a bit of shape away from the batter as well, Gardner squeezes the attempted drive towards extra cover for a quick single.

7.1: Joshitha V J to Beth Mooney, Bowled on a hard length and outside off, Beth Mooney stands tall and caresses it on the up through covers for one more.

6.6: Kanika Ahuja to Beth Mooney, This is dropped short and around off, Mooney rocks back and cuts it through the point region for a single.

6.5: Kanika Ahuja to Ash Gardner, Darted in, full and around off, Ash Gardner gets nicely forward and pushes it down to long off for a single.

The skipper, Ash Gardner is in next.

6.4: Kanika Ahuja to Dayalan Hemalatha, OUT! CAUGHT! Dayalan Hemalatha seemed a bit too eager to get going and ends up giving her wicket away. Kanika Ahuja tosses the ball up, wide of the off stump and entices the batter to go after it. Hemalatha comes down the pitch to play the lofted shot but ends up miscuing it straight towards backward point where Prema Rawat takes the catch. Gujarat are now 2 down!

6.3: Kanika Ahuja to Dayalan Hemalatha, Good length, in line with the stumps as well, Dayalan Hemalatha blocks this one off.

6.2: Kanika Ahuja to Beth Mooney, Tossed up, full and around off, Beth Mooney drives it through covers for a single.

6.1: Kanika Ahuja to Dayalan Hemalatha, Oh, this is nervy stuff from Hemalatha! Drops it right into the pitch over off, Hemalatha looks to play it to the leg side but gets a leading edge that lobs up just over the bowler and they pick up a single as well.

Kanika Ahuja to have a bowl now.

5.6: Joshitha V J to Beth Mooney, Excellent start from Joshitha V J, just 2 off the over and Gujarat are 39/1 after the Powerplay. Back of a length and around off, Mooney watchfully pushes it out on the off side.

5.5: Joshitha V J to Beth Mooney, BEATEN! Bowled on a hard length, right around the top of off, and this one holds its line. Beth Mooney comes down the pitch to stroke it through covers but misses.

5.4: Joshitha V J to Dayalan Hemalatha, Hard length, wide outside off, tapped away through the point region for a single by Hemalatha.

5.3: Joshitha V J to Dayalan Hemalatha, Another swing and a miss! Pulls the length back, keeping it in the channel outside off and taking it away from the batter. Hemalatha steps out to heave across the line but fails to connect.

5.2: Joshitha V J to Dayalan Hemalatha, Over the wicket now to the right-hander, bowling it relatively fuller and outside off, swinging away, Dayalan Hemalatha swings across the line but is well beaten.

5.1: Joshitha V J to Beth Mooney, Starts from around the stumps to the left-hander and bowls it a bit shorter on the pads, Beth Mooney hangs back and swivel-pulls it away down to deep backward square leg for one.

Debutant, Joshitha V J to bowl the final over of the Powerplay.

4.6: Renuka Singh Thakur to Dayalan Hemalatha, Fuller again and outside off, Dayalan Hemalatha finally decides to slog it down the ground but doesn't get the desired elevation. The ball goes over the in-circle and the mid on fielder Smriti Mandhana. They run for a couple. 

4.5: Renuka Singh Thakur to Dayalan Hemalatha, Goes fuller, outside off, Dayalan Hemalatha comes forward and nudges it to mid on.

4.4: Renuka Singh Thakur to Dayalan Hemalatha, An appeal for LBW but is turned down by the umpire! Smriti Mandhana is looking interested in taking the DRS but finally decides against it. Hard length, around middle, seaming in, Dayalan Hemalatha presses back and looks to swipe it but gets beaten on the bottom edge as the ball goes and hits her on the back pad. Probably, the height could be the issue. Oh, dear! The replays later show that it would have been out had they reviewed it!

Dayalan Hemalatha walks in at number 3.

4.3: Renuka Singh Thakur to Laura Wolvaardt, OUT! KNOCKED HER OVER! Renuka Singh Thakur draws first blood for Bengaluru! The dangerous Laura Wolvaardt departs and Gujarat are 35/1. Comes from over the wicket does Renuka and bowls on the tempting length, on the fourth stump, Laura Wolvaardt settles herself deep-rooted in the crease and clears out her front leg a bit to slog it to the leg side. She doesn't reach to the pitch of the ball and gets deceived by the swing a bit. Manages to get an inside edge as the ball goes and rattles the off stump.

4.2: Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, On a good length, wide outside off, Beth Mooney has to reach out to cut it towards deep point for a single.

4.1: Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, FOUR! A NICE EFFORT BUT A BOUNDARY FOR THE BATTER! Pitches up, outside off, Beth Mooney moves across a bit and drags it to the leg side uppishly but just wide of the mid-wicket fielder and the ball races away to the boundary at deep mid-wicket.

Bowling change? No, Renuka Singh Thakur will continue...

3.6: Kim Garth to Beth Mooney, Back of a length, outside off, Mooney again uses her feet and cuts it to deep point and gets a single this time.

3.5: Kim Garth to Beth Mooney, Again around the wicket for Mooney, on a length ball, around off, Beth Mooney is trying to unsettle the bowler by stepping out and moving across as she drops it down to cover at the end.

3.4: Kim Garth to Laura Wolvaardt, Comes over the wicket again, hard length, outside off, Laura steers it to deep cover for a single.

3.3: Kim Garth to Beth Mooney, Comes around the wicket, follows the batter, around middle and leg, Beth Mooney ends up getting cramped up for the desired room as she tucks it towards deep square leg for a single.

3.2: Kim Garth to Beth Mooney, Nagging length, outside off, Mooney stands tall and guides it to backward point.

3.1: Kim Garth to Beth Mooney, FOUR! STREAKY! Pitches up, on the fourth stump, Beth Mooney steps out and looks to go for a inside out shot over cover but gets it through the outer half of the bat as the ball goes over the backward point fielder for a boundary.

2.6: Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, Similar length, outside off, Mooney makes room a bit and dabs it wide of point for a single.

2.6: Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, WIDE! On a good length, wide outside off, Beth Mooney looks to cut it but misses. Called a wide.

2.5: Renuka Singh Thakur to Laura Wolvaardt, BYE! BEATEN ALL ENDS UP! On a good length, around middle, swings in big time, Laura Wolvaardt swipes at it but misses as the keeper also fails to collect the ball. The batters run for a bye as the ball rolls away towards short fine leg.

2.4: Renuka Singh Thakur to Laura Wolvaardt, Slightly fuller, around middle and leg, follows the batter, nips back in sharply, Laura Wolvaardt shimmies down the track to launch it towards the leg side but misses and gets hit on the body.

2.3: Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, On a good length, just outside off, Beth Mooney stretches her arms to cut it towards deep point for a single.

2.3: Renuka Singh Thakur to Laura Wolvaardt, TWO WIDES! Sprays it down the leg side, fuller in length, Laura Wolvaardt looks to flick it but misses. The batters run for a single as the ball rolls away toward short fine leg after the keeper can't hold onto it.

2.2: Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, Hard length, outside off, Beth Mooney cuts it uppishly from the back foot just far from the fielder at backward point for a single.

2.1: Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, In the air but over the mid off fielder! On a good length, outside off, Beth Mooney uses her feet and looks to loft it over cover but she doesn't get the desired elevation and the ball goes in the air but just over Smriti Mandhana at mid off. The batters run for a couple.

1.6: Kim Garth to Laura Wolvaardt, Good length, at the stumps, Laura Wolvaardt looks to flick it away but gets a leading edge that goes a bit uppishly but well short of the point fielder.

1.5: Kim Garth to Laura Wolvaardt, FOUR! SMACKED! Hard length, but wide outside off, offers more width, Laura Wolvaardt moves across a bit and slices it with the horizontal bat for a boundary at deep point.

1.4: Kim Garth to Laura Wolvaardt, Landed fuller, around off, Laura Wolvaardt comes forward and nudges it to mid on.

1.3: Kim Garth to Beth Mooney, An appeal for LBW from Garth but is turned down by the umpire! Pitches up, much fuller, around middle and leg, seaming in, Beth Mooney comes forward to flick it but gets beaten on the inside edge and gets hit on the front pad. The ball rolls to the off side and they cross for a run. The umpire signals it as runs, so, there might have been an inside edge as well.

1.2: Kim Garth to Laura Wolvaardt, Slightly fuller, outside off, Laura drives it towards sweeper cover for a single and gets off the mark. 

1.2: Kim Garth to Laura Wolvaardt, WIDE! Hard length, wide outside off, over the tramline, Laura Wolvaardt looks to reach out but misses. Called a wide.

1.1: Kim Garth to Beth Mooney, A tight single! On a good length, around off, Mooney dabs it towards extra cover and runs for a quick single. Joshitha V J collects the ball and makes a throw to the non striker's end but misses.

Who will bowl from the other end? It will be the former Gujarat player and Bengaluru's new recruit, Kim Garth!

0.6: Renuka Singh Thakur to Laura Wolvaardt, Nagging length, down the leg side, seaming in, Laura Wolvaardt looks to flick it but misses and the ball kisses the front pad and goes to the left of the keeper who makes a dive to her left and saves it.

0.6: Renuka Singh Thakur to Laura Wolvaardt, WIDE! On a good length but down the leg side, Laura Wolvaardt wants to tickle it but misses. Called a wide.

0.5: Renuka Singh Thakur to Laura Wolvaardt, A massive appeal for LBW from Renuka but is turned down! On a good length, seaming in with the angle, around middle and leg, Laura Wolvaardt comes forward to flick but misses and wears it on the front pad. Probably, it is going down the leg side and the replays later confirm the same.

0.4: Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, Back of a length, around off, Mooney taps it towards cover-point where Danni Wyatt-Hodge makes a dive to her right to save a boundary with her outstretched right hand. The batters run for a single.

0.3: Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, Corrects her length and line this time, around the fifth stump, hard length, Beth Mooney transfers her weight to the front foot to block it but gets beaten on the outside edge.

0.2: Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, FOUR! GUJARAT AND MOONEY ARE UNDERWAY! Touch short from Renuka and wide outside off, Beth Mooney gets enough room to extend her arms and cuts it in the gap towards point for a boundary.

0.1: Renuka Singh Thakur to Beth Mooney, Starts with a good-length ball, from over the wicket, around the fourth stump, a hint of outswing, Beth Mooney comes forward and defends it to cover.

Right then, done and dusted with the pre-match proceedings and the crowd gives a roaring cheer as well. We are all set for the game to begin and the umpires are already out in the middle. The players of Bengaluru also make their way out to the middle followed by the pairing of Beth Mooney and Laura Wolvaardt who will open the innings for Gujarat. It will be Renuka Singh Thakur to start things off with the new ball. Let's go...

We are just a few minutes away from the start of the game! However, given it is the season opener, both sets of players and the match officials will lineup for the Indian national anthem.

Bengaluru stalwart, Ellyse Perry is down for a chat. Perry says that it is a nice feeling to be back together and it is exciting to see this competition go from strength to strength every year. Adds that after the Ashes, she spent a bit of time at home before coming here but is excited and happy that there is so much more cricket on the women's calendar. On her hip injury, she says that she is fine and will bat but won't be able to bowl in the first few games. Reckons that in franchise cricket, there are so many changes every year and it just feels like a clean slate while starting a new season. Ends by saying that their home ground in Bengaluru is just fantastic and it will be great to be back there later on in the tournament but the first couple of games here will be crucial as well.

Bengaluru (Playing XI) - Smriti Mandhana (C), Danni Wyatt-Hodge (On debut), Ellyse Perry, Raghvi Bist (On debut), Richa Ghosh (WK), Kanika Ahuja, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth, Prema Rawat (On debut), Joshitha V J (On debut), Renuka Singh Thakur.

Gujarat (Playing XI) - Laura Wolvaardt, Beth Mooney (WK), Dayalan Hemalatha, Ash Gardner (C), Deandra Dottin (On debut), Harleen Deol, Simran Shaikh (On debut), Kashvee Gautam (On debut), Tanuja Kanwer, Sayali Satghare (On debut), Priya Mishra (On debut).

Ash Gardner, the captain of Gujarat says that they would have bowled first as well. Mentions that the preparations have been pretty nice, getting into the sessions quite a few days in advance. Adds that there are always things to work on and they have a great mixture of experience and raw talent and they are excited to get underway. Goes on to inform that they have five debutants in the form of Deandra Dottin, Simran Shaikh, Sayali Satghare, Kashvee Gautam and Priya Mishra and reckons that is quite exciting to see.

Smriti Mandhana, the skipper of Bengaluru, says that it is good to be back here as she was here just one month back and Vadodara has always been a great city for her and she likes to play here. Says that she thought that it would be Gujarat’s home ground but more people have come out to support them. She chooses to field first and says that it is a fresh wicket and it is the first match so the dew factor is there and she wants to utilize that in the second inning. Mentions that the last three practice sessions have been great for the whole group and looks like the squad is looking good. There are some forced changes but the team has shaped up nicely overall. Tells that there is a lot of changes but the four overseas are Ellyse Perry, Georgia Wareham, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, and Kim Garth. Also informs that they have three Indian debutants in the form of Joshitha V J, Prema Rawat and Raghvi Bist.

TOSS - Ash Gardner flicks the coin in the air and Smriti Mandhana calls it correctly. Bengaluru will BOWL first.